The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1932. PUBLIC WORKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1932. PUBLIC WORKS.

Tt is dear from the statement ot t?e Minister of Public Works this trees, that there will be a drastic curtailment in the general expenditure out of the Public Works Fund. For the current' financial year dosing this month, the,,provision made on the Estimates was over six millions, but for the year commencing, next month, it is anticipated only a million tend a quarter outsiefe of highways funds, will be available, The reduction is substantial, and only one-fifth of the former amount will be available. It is true that all the votes provided for on the last Estimates have not been spent, nor authorised, and on that account there will lie a considerable carry over, probably equal to the new money of a million and aquarter considered to be in sight. For that reason there will be very little, if any, for new works. The money will have to be rationed in small quantities, and to assist it to go further, there is the rescilve to treat the works under the relief system. This is not palatable to the Labour party which is so desirous of paying high wages without thought of where the money is to come from. But the Government with the responsibility on it.s -shoulders, must face the position and do the best it can with the money available. The fact k that the Labour party refuse to realise the stringency of the world situation. They take no thought- of what is happening and has happened in other countries, through the monej deficiency. The plight and experience of Australia so near home, is not a les=on nor an example to them. They arc prepared to carry on as Mr Lang has been doing without thought of the wherewithal, and when the day of reckoning came, Mr Lang found the treasury empty and had to default. A stigma such as that is not regarded with any qualms of regret by tbe Ilabour representatives. Nor will they realise the logic of the facts resultant from the low price for New Zealand produce and products. The flattened market. for wool, and the depressed prices for meat, butter and dairy produce in general do not convey to the Labour members any serious import of the country’s finance. Their faiili seems to he in a printing press to turn out notes without any hacking of value. The working man would soon realise his plight if ihe Government .started issuing that class of payment. In New South \A ales. the working man is in a very difficult, plight, Reports show his condition was never worse. Fnemployir.ent is ■ n'loat- and there is little prosper! of betterment, for the reason that financial institution,s have lost con* fM-niro in extreme LaV or Government administration. Enterprise is being crushed out, and that sliou d b n an example of what can happen under a reckless l.ahour regime. The Now Zealand Gov< rvnenl, m'l 'onat in < ihi!|cisit inu, is lacing the siluatiou creiafeil by '-mrld eonditor ;, and is endeavouring- lo overcome Ihe d'ffii uli ic.s with ihe I" mt injury to Ihe many. \ dually. ! lie 'hunii-ion is -purse" Ihioiigh a mod difficult phase with a great deal of • rod it to the administration which i; keeping the Ship of

State moving without undue discomfort to the passengers. We do not know that the worst is past yet, but the pace is being controlled to the times, and the dislocation cannot be as serious as it would have been had there not been reauona-ble thought of the morrow. This action in regard to the public works policy is forced uy the condition of the times, and it is best that the Government should act circumspectly betimes, instead of approaching a dead end without any preparation at all.