PUBLIC WORKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1919, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS.

Aucklanh, Feb 5 Speaking in regard to his statement that public works were being retarded by a scarcity of suitable labour, Sir William Fraser said lie made this statement simply with a view to correcting the possibility of exaggerated views being entertained that the progress of public works might be increased in the immediate present. His statement made some time ago that he could find work for 10,000 or more men if necessary should be an indication that lie would have both the means and the work ready if these men were offering. He had not stated, however, that he expected to get 10,000 men, because that would be to assume that many thousands of men weuld abandon the employment they were engaged in prior to the War in order to seek employment with the Public Works Department. He be-

lieved that in a very short time lie would be able to obtain the services of about the same number of riidii as he

had bn the books, prior to the war. More than this, it would be unreasonable to expect, owing to the fact of so many thousands having either lost their lives or having beeu tendered, through wounds or illness, unfit for such strenuous work. If the dominion desired, as he thought it did, that railways, roads, bridges, and hydro-electric works should be pushed ou vigorously it was clearly evident that a reasonable policy of assisted immigration would have to be put in band. On January 25, IBID, the

llun)bel , of men employed on public works iu New Zealand totalled 2272. Of these, 433 tvere Jngo-Slavs, Of the total given 1221) were employed on railway work and 1043 on road and bridge work. The total number employed in the North Island was 1700, whicli was three-fourths of the total for New Zealand, or about 75 per cent. In Auckland province there were 832 employed on railways and 3G5 on roads, etc. This, lie stated, represented the fair average of allocation of men for the past three years.