PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATE

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 699, 29 August 1914, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATE

AN EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME

[nvr THLKcnAi'jr.—rnicss asnociation.l Wellington, Thursday An emphatic statement was made in the House of Representatives this evening by tha Minister for Fublio Works in replying to the opinions expressed by members that public workß should be prosecuted to provide employment for men who were deprived of their usual occupations by the „ effects of the war.

Mr FtEßer suid he was engaged apon the preparation of the Public Works Estimates and he was framing" them as if there was no war. Hia intention was in fact to provide for an even larger expenditure than lastyear, and if te Government was fortuntea enough to obtain the m6ney the works could be carried out. / s Mr J. A. Hanan asked whether subsidies would ba provided for those districts in which no public works were to ue undertaken.

The Minister replied that he could not promise to say that subsidies ■<- would be provided to help unemployed in any particular district." Work would be required by men who were not accustomed to navvying and work ' would have to bo provided in districta where it could be done with the greatest economy. "The intensity of the struggle will not be met any more easily," Mr Fraser continued, "by circulating all sorts of foolish, stupid rumours that will cause people to dispense with the servizeß of employees. Ten thousand strong young men ate l going away and their places must surely be taken by those who talkidf bei: g unemployed. It ia no use men saying they will not go into the, • country and do farm work. I B»y that the tilling of the soil and the milking of cows will be of first ira A portance and must be attended to before public works or anything elße. People must realise that a time may come when there will not he a choice of employment. Surely this country has not comu to such a. condition that tbpre is nn employment beyond the making of roads and bridges "