PUBLIC WORKS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 342, 1 October 1932, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS

("Post" Speeial Commissioner.)

TOO EXTENSfVE BOARD SHOULD RIGIDLY CURTAIL FUTURE SPENDING PRESENT SYSTEM WASTEFUL |

Wellington, Friday. Public Works expenditure is also the subject of criticism and sweeping recommendations on the part. of . the conunission. . "It is evident that insufiicient consideration has been given. in the past to the economic justification of many of the works which have been undertaken," says the Commission, "and also we believe that a proper conception has in many cases not been formed of the .manner in which maintenance charges are to he finaneed on the completion of work. We are defmitely of the opinion that the time has arrived for a halt to be called in Public, Works expenditure. We consider that a return to the contract system of carrying out public works is of prime importance, and that the Public Works Department should be redueed to a stafF of advising and inspecting engineers, r.s was intended when the Department was first inaugurated. "We believe, also, that before any public works are undertaken in the future, or before any assistance is given by the State to public works which are to be carried out by local authorities., the proposals should first of all be subject to expert examination by an independent board of works somewhat alcin to the Local Government Loans Board. It should be the duty of this board to review . all matters conneeted with' proposed works or Government assistance in x'espect pf proposed works, and to report thereon to the Government.

This board would require statutory powers, and we suggest that the legislation should provide that in any case where an adverse report is submitted hy the board of works, the proposals should not be proceeded with, except with speeial legislative autiiority. "With the exception of a Treasvtry representative, the hoar«3 should be eath-ely non-polilical aud non-technical. It would naiurally have advice aKd reports from the Public Works Departmeut, and shcuM be authorised to call for indepeudeut engineering reporis on any project. "It is not so mueh a board of professional men that -is called for as a board of business men capable of corrcctly estimating the financial position and prospects and economic justification of proposed works. Large Savings "Our recommendations in regard to the Public Works Department as a whole are such that we eannot translate them into definite monetary savings, but it may he taken, however, that they will be large and immediate. "In eonsidering the Public Works administration and policy, we have not been unmindful of the fact that many of the works have been of great value to the Dominion, and that incroased production and the consequent increase in national wealth have not been in proportion to the growth of the public debt and the consequential charges on taxation through the prosecution of non-rev-enue-earning schemes. Hsavy Borrov.ring "For many years past borrowing has been inuulged in to an excessive extent, and a large amount of loan money has bccn unwisely spent and mueh has been wasted. The raising oi large amounts of loan money overseas has made possible fietitious standards of liv ing, and has been largely responsible for the present difficulties in which the Dominion is involved. One of the mara factors in the present economic crisis is the public debt. "Lavish expenditure has called into existence a large body of men who have known ko other employmeat thap . that made possible hy the use of horrowed money. "It is an illusicn that it is only possible to carry on the development of the country by borrowing overseas. Temporary hardship to all elasses of the eoinniunity may follow the cessation of overseas boi rowing, but this will have to bc faced, as the time has arrived when the Dominion must be content to live wiihin its ovra resources." Estimates aad Costs Another disadvantage of the present system was that it was easy for the Government to start perhaps small works with a view of relieving unemployment in any loeality, but these later develcped into works requiring greatly inercased expenditure. Large works were frequently authorised oii the estimates of engineers, but in many cases the actual cost greatly excecded the estimate. As instarices. of estimates exceeded tlie following table wa's given: —

Scheme. Estimate Cost Central Otago Irrigation Works— ' . C ,-C ManuJierikia 15(5,000 230,000 Tev'iot 42,000 55,000 Ardgour 27,000 34,000 Tarras 78,000 137,000 I lawk dun 59,000 GS.000 362,000 527,000 Mangahao el«ie, power 439,000 2,41)0,000 Railway woi'kshops .... 1,5(10,000 2,000,000 Westfleid deviation ...._ 450, 000 803,000 Waihon and Ohinemuri, Rivers . improveisjeiit lafjib'lO 710,000 Rangilaiki land drainage 50,000 500,000 Totals 2,951,000 6,940,000