PUBLIC WORKS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 August 1926, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS

.MINISTER IN CAUTIOUS AIOOD. AVELLINGTON, -August 28. After listening for a long day to the suggestions of members for expenditure on works, all urgently needed, in various parts of die Dominion, the Hon K. S. AA’illianis (Alinister of Public Works) gave a reply which showed a desire to be cautious in future public works expenditure. He thanked mem hers for the many suggestions they lmd made but hastened to inform

them that he would need to reassure himself very thoroughly about the advisability of proceeding with furtheadditional works. He did not wish t ' hind New Zealand into a policy of fast borrowing. He did not care about the prospects for our produce for the next year or two. Though not a pessimist, he thought things were not as 'good as they might he. and this induced in him a feeling that if he could possibly chock the rate of expenditure where it could justifiably be checked, he

should adopt that plan. A good deal of the money which Parliament would proceed to vote on the Public AAoiks Estimates would be reproductive, as it would be spent on railways and hy-dro-electric undertakings, but it took some years to get these to the point of making a full return. He put him-' self in the position of a trustee, as l-o regarded himself ns holding the position not for the purpose of pleasing members, but having the obligation of looking carefully into every point to see what effect expenditure, would have on the future of New Zealand, expenditure for which the younger generation would have to pay. The Minister promised to visit as many parts of New Zealand as possible in the recess, so that he could personally judge of the merits of many undertakings commended to his notice.

This reply had to satisfy a large number of members who had asked for railway extension and more public buildings. As for the hitter. Afr AA rillinms declared that he thought ho should look more carefully into it than any ether phase of public works expenditure, because it gave little or no immediate return. He indicated that the old Government House building which has been used for legislative purposes would lie renovated.- and the project ofcompleting the remaining wing of the Parliamentary Building in marble would have to stand aside for a time.