"CHANGE GEAR"

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 61, 3 November 1931, Page 3

"CHANGE GEAR"

(Press Assn.-

PUBLIC WORKS NEW POLICY TO MEET NEW CONDITIONS OUTLINED BY MINISTER WORK MUST . BE PRODUCTIVE

— By Telegraph — Copyright.)

WELLINGTON, last night. Presenting the Public Works. Statement in the House of Representatives to-night the Minister of Public Works, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, said the coalition of the two main parties of the House and the consequent changes in the personnel of the Cabinet had caused him to resume the office of Minister of Public Works at a time when his predecessor had already prepared his statement and estimates for presentation to members. Although the details of the statement ' and estimates showed the result of the y.ear's work earried out under his direction, he proposed to preface them with a few general remarlcs on the intentions of the Government in respect to public works. "For a number of years I have felt that an unbalanced industrial condition existed in New Zealand, due to an unduly large proportion of the population deriving a livelihood from works the expenditure upon which was from Government loan funds." said Mr. Coates. "The country has been pursuing a policy of development from borrowed money for a period so long that men have looked upon public works as a permanent avenue of employment. Many of them engaged in these works in early manhood and have reared their families while in the employ of the State. They have regarded their positions as be^ ing permanent, and have failed to recognise that the tenure of their work depended upon the eontinuance of a policy of constructive works from eapital-money." So long as the progress of the country justified the carrying-on of developmental works, and the Dominion's industries, partieularly the great primary industry, increased at a rate faster than that at which borrowed money was sepnt, the position was sound; but when uncontrollable causes, especially the fall of world prices of primary produets, caused a suspension in the expansion of industry, the justification for developmental works became less apparent. He did not mean that developmental works should cease altogether. There should be a gradual tapering-off to enable those men displaced from one calling to have the opportunity of establishing themselves in other industries. Must Provide Work The financial position in the country to-day called upon the Government to provide as much work as it can to tide the country over the difficult period until industries were established on a new basis. For this reason it was still necessary that certain public works should be earried out. His endeavour in the future would be to divert the labour available, and such funds as could be justifiably raised, together with a portion of the Unemployment Board's funds, to carrying out rural development. He had more partieularly in mind the improvement of lands. Men now being displaced in work on railway construction would be given work as far

as practicable in metalling roads in outlying districts, on new bloeks of land, in forming and making new roads, and in fencing and in preparing those blocks for settlement; also in undeveloped lands, the construetion of irrigation sehemes and the reclamation of low-lying country and sand-covered country. Intensive Work on Farms "In all probability greater national returns can be obtained by intensive work on suceessful farms than on any possible development of the poorer lands," said Mr. Coates. "I do not mean from this that there should be any slackening-off in the endeavour to bring in virgin land or to restore deteriorated land, but unemployment and the country's financial position demand immediate consideration, and the quiclcest response will come from the application of labour intelligently directed on our best farming-land." "Even though it be found impossible for a time to borrow money abroad," Mr. Coates said, "it will be necessary, to employ our labouring population and to prevent complete stagnation, to carry out a certain amount of work with the financial resources obtainable within New Zealand. I am satisfied when the issues are put to the test it will be found •that the resources of New Zealand are greater than we have imagined. In conclusion, the country is to-day, so to speak, in "reverse gear." Publicworks activities may be said to be running in "top gear," A "change gear" must; now be made,