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Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1932, Page 4

It would appear that owing in the cancellation of the public works grants throughout New Zealand just on the end of the financial year, that' the larder is very empty. If there is not enough money to carry on the current votes, there will not be much room for new votes next financial year, beginning very shortly now. Rt. Lion. Minister of Public “Works announced in the House recently that it was hoped to provide a quarter of a million from borrowed money for next year, as against £1,325,000 found for the‘year now closing. Doubtless because of this marked shortage, and the growth of unemployment, the Government in the hope of spreading the money round to better advantage has decided to pay for labour' on public works at. relief rates. The present scale is 12s fid a day for married men and 9s for single men. If these figures are to be subject to the suggested ten per cent, “cut,” it will mean Us 3d a day for married men and 8s Id for single men; and if off this wages tax lias to be deducted it will mean two pence a day less, providing tli§ tax is not increased as lids been mentioned in some quartets, The single men will be receiving less titan eight shillings a cl ay, which means a 'big cut where standard works of quality are involved. For the public 'safety, the work will require to be ot as good a standard as heretofore, and when quality is involved there should he some special consideration for the workmen. It is therefore a very radical step to take to place all public work,3 in the category of relief works, and we take it, employing only the registered unemployed.. Many good workmen who have been following public works all their lives, and have not been unthrifty, will be debarred from work. Many capable men will he debarred because they do not need work by way of relief. But the country requires its public works to be capably done, and the method of construction will require to be handled with due consideration. This is an instance where economy may go too far. and it is as well to consider the position at the outset because public works must be maintained at the standard they have been notable for.