Hokitika Guardian & evening star TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16th., 1917. PUBLIC WORKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & evening star TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16th., 1917. PUBLIC WORKS.

ftiK statement issued last week by the Minister in Charge of the Public Works Department again invites criticism as to the. methods adopted > n carrying out the public works of the country. The same condition of affiiiis w apparent p.s in times toast, in if won* intense manner really, and for that reason suggest a- material reform in a system which as it stands deludes the public as to the real situation. This is so in relation to the Estimates. In a very round about way, and in the expenditure of much valuable time which costs money, the Department prepares its Estimates for the year. Those for the current year are styled the 1917-18 Estimates, covering expenditure to date from April Ist. last. They are not compiled actually till six months of the year have gone by, which on the face of it suggests some measure of deception. In the Estimates just produced, £1,881,715, is asked for, but more than half t-lve. year has already gone by, and it will be two or three months at least before tho authorities are issued, so that with nine months gone, there remains hut three months of the financial year in which to spend upwards of two millions of money. When we read that tho Minister asks for the large sum referred to, it is quite apparent there is a. considerable degree of delusion about the matter. The works can not he coped with in the time. But there is another way in which the public are mystified over this precious expendituure of votes. Tn the latest Estimates there is a long itemised list of votes under the heading of public buildings totalling £727.020. but tho public must not think this sum is to be spent. On the contrary, tho total vote the Minister asks for is £BIO,OOO, so that those who are too credible over those matters are being fooled to the extent of £417,020. This relates tel one enw-s of Estimates, and there btc others in tho same, category. Or, if the individual votes are scanned, it will bo seen that many of them are quite old friends. They have appeared again and again : year after year. thus emphasising tho faroial procedure adopted under theso hoary and d<v copt-ive methods. The whole system is wrong from every point of view, and one wonders what the expensive Public 'Service Commissioners think of tho waste going on by the oontinunnoo of a system which is unmethodical, not- economical. and a delusion and a snare to /

tfc.o long-suffering - public.- The Estimates require cleaning up. They axe redolent of the state of a'n Augean stable in need of a great clearing out. Just as the neat and natty housewife indulges in her spring cleaning, so the Minister should adopt- onco a year a clearing up process of his Estimates. If a work is important enough to appear on the Appropriations, it should be for the Minister to.see that he has thp wavs and means to carry it through and until it is disposed of, the statement should not bo overloaded w 'th other works for which it is impossible to find funds. Tliero should he a’ set system of procedenoo, and with the large clerical staffs the Minister has at his disposal, the suuggestion here put forward should work out- with greater economy to the public purse, mid with ali round satisfaction to tile public. Westland luVs much reason to complain of this unwieldy stuffing of the Estimates, the latest list being a shocking example of the complaint hole vo'cecl.

In August, 1914, Germany was all afire to • cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war.” Since then she ha.-, had her fill of war, tind would cry Peace when there is no peace. The bleeding process that she was so pleased to administer to other nations is being administered to herself, and she must submit to it or throw up the sponge. We should imagine that the name of Sir Douglas Ilaig bids fair to become synonymous in Germany with that of an egro calculated to subdue German Labes to good, behaviour. The humour of ‘he German General Staff is discovered in its reference to the “bloodiness” of Sir Douglas Haig’s war methods. The enemy finds that the once despised British Army—a David against his Goliath not so many months ago—has gathered a' driving power and