RETRENCHMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 281, 6 December 1901, Page 3

RETRENCHMENT.

J3y Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, last night

The exchange of telegrams relative to the discharge of men on the railway works continues. Mr Fowlds, M.H.R., received the following telegram from the Minister of Public Works“ln reply to your telegram, re works in the Auckland district, if you will refer to my wire to you of the 28th ult., you will see there is no denial that men havo been dispensed with. As may be inferred from your last telegram -a number discharged from the north end the Main Trunk lino is not nearly so great as you mention, and, with very few exceptions, all those put off were single mon. It is not unusual to reduce hands during the summer months, when there are so many opportunities for men to obtain other employment. I cannot therefore understand the absurd statements that have been made concerning this matter; one, for instance, that the whole of the work on the north end was to be stopped last Saturday. Another, , that the wholo expenditure was to bo concentrated on tho south end, and one of the wildest was attributed to yourself, namely, that it was for want of funds. We havo been making good progress on the Main Trunk line, and I intend, so far as tho vote will permit, to make further good progress, and can do so, and none of this nonsense that has appeared will put me off the track with regard to the PaeroaWaihi and some other works. You must recognise that my expenditure is controlled by vote of Parliament, and tho vote being for tho financial year, then, except where works are nearing completion, the expenditure within reasonable limits has to cover that period, and on the H Paeroa line tho vote will be fully expondod / by the 31st March. Had you intimated to me your desire to know what was being done upon the southern works, I would at once have informed you, and I venture to think that you would have been satisfied that your district had not been exceptionally treatod. — Wm. Uall-Jones.