THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1924. PUBLIC WORKS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4771, 3 November 1924, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1924. PUBLIC WORKS.

£ e The Public Works Statement is being well discussed by members of Parliament, it. is evident that the Minister and the officers of his department are working harmoniously together in order to carry out the public works of the Dominion. The taxpayers will agred with the Minister that the country should get full value for. money expended. The statement that, there are too many local bodies will meet .with general approval, but the trouble will be when the' pruning knife is applied. Overhead charges in the case of many road boards and small bodies are high in proportion to their expenditure and the benefit they are to the Dominion. The Minister has endeavoured to get away from political control, and has asked for money for work that he thinks most necessary for the advancement of the Dominion. Everyone will admit that all the votes proposed for this district, if properly spent, will make for progress. A big question is whether the Public Works Department or local bodies should have the spending o£ the money. Expert knowledge is required, and that may be obtained from officers, of the Public Works Department; hut eureify local experience counts I Hundreds of capable men throughout the Dominion are giving their time to benefit the community in which they reside, and in common with their neighbours these members of public bodies are anxious to improve the country. They are keen to get the utmost value for every pound spent. It is pleasing to note the public spirit of the residents of the Horahia drainage area. Seven men are required to form the board and twelve have offered their services. They are acquainted with the history of the past and may have different ideas of what is required for the future, but it may be taken for granted that every one is out to see that tlie ratepayers get good value for their money. In this way local bodies may he of great assistance to tlie Minister for Public Works. In a democratic country it is wise to let the.people have considerable control of the expenditure of community funds under expert advice.