PUBLIC WORKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 October 1923, Page 1

PUBLIC WORKS.

TLIE -MINISTER’S POLICY. [by TELEGRAPH —PER MESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Oct. 24. Ah indication of how he considered railway works should lie proceeded with was given by the Hon J. G. Coates to a deputation to-day. The Minister said lie was endeavouring to put down on the back of an envelope, as it were, what were the most important and urgent, railway works in New Zealand and Then consider from the developmental standpoint which lines should be put in hand first. There were certain schemes before the Department, .Mr Hiley’s and others, but if they tackled them all at once they would only bo able to get them partially completed, then perhaps would have to close down if the country ran short of money. What they should do was to get the whole of the works listed and then select the more important ones for completion, taking into consideration the savings which would he effected if certain improvements were carried out by the railway administration. If 10 per cent would be saved on one line and 20 per cent on another then tile line showing where the greatest saving would be carried out should he put in hand first. The developmental side had to he thought of and the need for encouraging people to live in suburban areas. What ' Tic proposed to do—lie might be wrong, hut he was supposed to have an opinion —was to tabulate the works in order of urgency and then get the more important ones pushed to completion. He did not think they should try to undertake too much at one time. •’*r Coates said it might be necessary to stop works iti the hackbloeks for a while in order to concentrate men. material and plant on giving better outlets from and access to the cities. That was a possible solution if they got stuck for fmancc. Railway Improvement. and developmental work in fhc hackbloeks could he proceeded with afterwards.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. WELLINGTON, Oct. 24. A deputation of local members of Parliament waited on the Hon J. G. Coates to-day to urge the expenditure at once of the £IO,OOO, put on the Estimates ior the Tawa Elat deviation. They hoped the money would he spent !| nd not merely kept on the Estimates from year to year. A good deal was said about flic necessity for providing a bettor exit from Wellington to avoid the heavy inclines on the Manawatu hue and also something about the amount of money being spent in Auckland on roads and railways compared with Wellington. !>r Newman stressed this, and said Ibd men in Auckland wore making reads against 22 in Wellington. 1 lie -Minister said Dr Newman was wrong, and the figures were 20S in Auckland and 2~b in Wellington. It was also pointed out there wero ovr 000 men employed on the Mangahao Electric Works. Coming back to the point at issue, ihe Minister asked what did they want ami was told that they wanted to .soo a start made even if it was only a survey. -Mr Coates replied that a survey was under way. A trial .survey had been made ami an engineering survey was now to bo; taken in band. On the general question of railway improvements, the .Minister threw out a hint that it might bo necessary to slop work in the hackbloeks for a while in order to concentrate on giving better access to the cities. It was a' question ol the development of tlio whole countrv.