P.W.D. DISMISSALS AND WORK STOPPAGE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 153, 20 February 1932, Page 5

P.W.D. DISMISSALS AND WORK STOPPAGE

("Post" Special Comiuissioner)

doleful picture STRJNGENT ECONOMIES 1 BELIEVED TO BE r" PENpiN'G " , WHOLESALE redu.ctions

WELLINGTON, Friday. It was ascertained from an autHoritative source to-day, that public works throughout the Dominion are to be drastically curjtailed,' and 'that the nejtt few weeks will see the dismissal of ia'rge numbers of pejrmanent emp'Ioyees, in addition to those dismissals [which have ahready iaken place in recent months. One of the principal works that will he affected is the Tawa Flat deViation, on which work has been proceeding for some years past. It is 'stated that a large npmber of men engaged. on the work' at Tawa i Flat will "be dismissed in the near' future. Wh,ether this will mean a complete ceissation of the work it is difficujt to as.c.ertain at the moment, but it i.s certain that the operations will be jL'educed .to a minimum. It. is believed that the deviation is somei years ahead of the general railway plan, and that the completion of the Work is not regarded as an urgent necessity. Stratford Main Trunk Already an indication has been given that work is likely to be slowed up on the Stratford main trunk which is nearing completion. Dismissals will be made in' this case, and .as a result, the opening of the line will be delayed.

Hydro - electric works are also like-; to he affected by the general slackening up in public works. Arapuni, of course, is practically completed, butj in the case of Waitaki, it is not at all likely that there will be a stoppage.

It is stated that the financial p|osi- : tion of the country

is such that it is regarded as being absolutely impossible to carry on expenditure at the present rate and the Government has no option but to reduce to a very marked extent, the number of men in its permanent employ. Cannot Find Money The whole fact of the matter is that the Government is unable to find the money necessary to carry on works on the present basis, and it is stated that before very long there will be very few men engaged on public works as permanent employees. Most of the public works are being carried on with loan money, and money markets are unwilling to accommodate with further advances at the present time. It is also believed that the number of the department's executive officers will be affected by the Government's ' decision, though to what extent it is not possible to say at the moment. Extensive Dismissals The dismissals which have already taken place, and which are likely to take place in the future, will not necessarily mean that the men affected will be left without means of livelihood, as it has been stated that the Government is at present working on a definite seh.eme, the object of which is to provide work for as many people as possible. Details of the s.cheme have not yet been finalised, but it may be taken as c.ertain that early in the session of Parliament to commence on Tuesday next, a full statement of the position will be made. Members of Parliament and the country generally, it is stated, will be taken into the confidence of the Government both in regard to the necessity for closing down on public works, and in regard to future plans for dealing with the unemployment problem. Scheme For Relief The Government is making no seeret of the fact that the numbers of registered unemployed in New Zealand are likely to increase very materially within the next month or so, but it has hopes that it will be in a position to provide relief which will be at least sufficient to enable the unemployed to tide over the winter months. The possibility of other departments being affected by a lack of finance cannot be overlooked, and general indications are that the public of New Zealand will be asked to face some hafd facts during the next few months.