A BETTER OUTLOOK

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1920, Page 1

A BETTER OUTLOOK

MINISTER on rub,l49 WORKS. WELLINGTON, Pep. 13. The Hon J. G. Coates (Minister for Public Works), iiitervieiyed in regard to tho. position as tp, public vvoyks generally throughput thp Dominion, said that; lie .had little to. add to the statements alrpady ma/lp in Auckland, and covered by the Bfcsa Association reports.

Materials all round were, a bit easier, lie stated, but stil.l foil far short of requirements ; and the labour situation was also somewhat better. According to the latest weekly report, the total number of men now in the employ of the Public Works Department was in the ‘neighbourhood of 1800, or practically 1000 more than \vere. employed in June last. The public works throughout the country were jogging alyng as usual, and. that must continue to be the case till more adequate supplies of materials and a considerably greater number of men were available. While the total demands for hydroelectric development throughout New Zealand would require an aggregate expenditure -of no less than £60,000,000, given the necessary men, money, and materials, bis department was quite prepared to, igo on with the Work. Steady, progress was being made with the Mangahno and the Waikare-Moana hydro-electric schemes; and, barring accidents, of any unforseen difficulties, he bad no doubt that the Mangabao scheme would be completed tri. time that was to say, three years, from, the dato oq which it was started. Thiswork, and public works generally, were, still hampered by the cement difficulty, but he had reason to hope that the department would be able to overcome that difficulty before very long. The Minister added that lie was going north next week to his own district, and to inspect the railway works to tlie. north of Auckland. He would be re- , turning to Wellington after Christmas,, and would visit en route the Raglan, tho Wnimarino, and other districts. To wards the end of January he would he visiting tho South Island in regard to various departmental matters. His recent trip to Auckland had been principally concerned with the hydroelectric power schemes up north. He had received deputations from the electric power hoards and the local bodies concerned, and had also been inter- ; viewed by representatives of local bodies in regard to other public works.