PUBLIC WORKS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1920, Page 1

PUBLIC WORKS

MINISTER CRITICISED. (Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 29. The debate on the Public Works Statement and Estimates was opened tonight. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Wilford) had the Minister for Public Works under rather a heavy fire for half an hour. Mr Wilford quoted from Ministerial speeches and newspapers to show that the country had been promised a new Public Works policy, with a concentration of effort on the most important work.- He contended that the Statement showed that the new policy had failed to materialise and that the old bad system of scattering doles of monep all over the country was being continued. Practically every one of the numerous railway lines now under construction was receiving a grant. He protested that Auckland was being favoured owing to its strong representation in the Ministry. ’ Dr Newman (Wellington East) who used to be a Reformer, but is now semiindependent had something to say on similar lines. The Minister was ' distributing money’ in the familiar fashion ancl taking particularly good care of his own portion of the country. Railway votes totalled £BOO,OOO of which Auckland was receiving £500,000. The debate was continued until after three in the morning, the Minister receiving more kicks than half-pence, all the way. He’ replied at some length and stated that a concentration of effort on the North Auckland East Coast and Midland line would take place in the near future. Five line's now in hand would be completed bq March next and three would be stopped. Sonic other branches would be completed jij two years.