COST OF DEVELOPMENT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4881, 23 September 1925, Page 3

COST OF DEVELOPMENT.

MONEY FOB PUBLIC WORKS. “COUNTRY MUST NOT STAGNATE.” In commenting on what could be a reasonable sum to spend annually on public works the Hon. J. G. Coates in the annual Public Works Statement says “Ours is a young land and but partially developed. Our prosperity, both in town - and country, depends on the successful marketing of our primary products'. We are far from the world’s markets, and it conse-quently-behoves us, in the best way we can, to cheapen the cost of,internal transport from the farm to the consuming, manufacturing, and shipping centres. The quality of our products will avail _little_ unless we can place them on the worlds markets at prices equivalent to their use-value. True, we cannot afford to spend too much ; but it is; equally true that we cannot afford to spend too little. Indeed, the latter is likely to be the more costly in the end. It seems to me that the best mode of procedure is to see that every proposed expenditure is thoroughly analysed and considered from the point of view of its net economic result tb the country. If the conclusion is favourable, then do the job, and do it as efficiently and as speedily . aS possible. Thus costs will be kept at a minimum, and those to be served by the undertaking benefited without undue delay.

“The providing of public utilities and increased population arc complementary of each other. Better communication by road and rail means doser settlement and great productivity of our lands. Increased population necessitates the extension of the telegraph, the telephone, the electric light and electric power for domestic use, and the economic working of our'farming and subsidiary industries' And the facilities have an aesthetic as well as an economic value to the community, which enhances and renders more attractive living and working in the country and thus helps to stem- the drift of population to the towns. “In this matter a Government is in much the same position as the directorate of a producing and manufacturing company whose undertaking as it grows and progresses requires more capital to develop and extend its operations. Without such additional capital the undertaking stagnates, and other companies with greater, enterprise eventually secure its market. So must it be with us. In these days of competition in the world’s markets, if we do not develop our natural resources to their full extent, and in the most enlightened and scientific manner, we will find ourselves losing bur place and such present advantages as have been won for us at much cost in labour and sacrifice by those who have gone before. Safety lies only in going forward; To stand still is ,to go back. But we must go forward with a definite purpose, even as .we must see p to be our .clear duty to assure ourselves as far as possible that every work of development we undertake is necessary and will justify its cost by the revenue, or other benefits, resultant therefrom.”