THE PUBLIC WORKS EXPENDITURE

Shannon News, 21 June 1921, Page 1

THE PUBLIC WORKS EXPENDITURE

MINISTER DEFINES HIS POLICY

In the course of his remarks at the opening of the commodious Y.M.C.A. hutment at the Arapeti camp, Mangahao, on Friday, the Minister for Public Works, Hon. J. G. Coates, referring to the policy of his Department, said that just at the present time he was receiving criticism from certain quarters in New Zealand, and he wanted to place the position before his hearers. First of all, they were having difficulty in New Zealand as elsewhere in connection with finance. In the past the usual policy pursued in the Dominion when the Government found they were .running short of money was to retrench, and the first department to feel the pinch was the Public Works. ‘‘l should be the on.e to know what money I have got to spend,” continued Mr Coates. “I have to take what my Government gives me, and the limit placed on iiiy Department at present is £300,000 per month. This has to cover not only such work as that at Mangahao, but all public works extension connected with Post and Telegraphs and similar undertakings." .Mr Coates said one way to meet the situation was to reduce wages, but he wanted to enter a very emphatic protest against reduction. The man outback was engaged in a great national undertaking, handling the business end of the shovel, and he should be one of the last to suffer from reduction. (Loud applause.) Referring to relief work for unemployment, Mr Coates said he had been criticised for the policy pursued in that direction, but all he could say was that only a certain amount of money was available and the rate of wage fixed for that work was for unemployed men only. There was no attempt on the part of the Department to pull down the rate of wages. ‘‘The chief point I want to make as Minister for Public Works,” added Mr Coates, “is this: That if there are to be reductions of wages, there must be an all-round reduction, and not in the Public Works Department only.” Referring to the progress of the work at Mangahao, Mr Coates acknowledged the hearty co-operation he had received from the various heads of departments, and complimented them on the progress made despite the difficulties concerning material. lie repeated the hope that power would be available in 1923. An important factor in the success of the operations was contented workmen. Mr Dinnie had stated that he was pleased with and proud of the men he had under him. He trusted relations would never become strained, and that the work would continue 1o progress as satisfactorily as it was doing now. (Applause.)

Mr McNamara, secretary of the Workers Union, in the course of a few remarks, said there had been very few complaints, and he had always received a good hearing when any bona fide complaint had been placed before Mr Dinnie. He believed the workers were making an honest attempt to do their best to help the Government in a great national undertaking.

Hon. C. M. Luke, speaking on behalf of the Y.M.C.A., referred in complimentary terms to the manner in which Hon. J. G. Coates was handling his Department. He was a most promising man, and had done splendid service already. Mr Luke said he had come in touch with many Public Works Ministers, but lie never knew one who had shown greater energy, greater interest or greater earnestness in his work. He trusted that there would at least be two Departments which would not be allowed to suffer through the present financial stringency. They were the Public Works Department and the Education Department. (Hear, hear.) Mr Furkert (Public Works Engineer) referred also to the good relations existing between those in charge of the work and the men. Mentioning the criticisms sometimes levelled at the engineers, Mr Furkert reminded his hearers that these men were experts in their own line, and should know what they were doing. The Department did not mind criticism, but sometimes the criticism did not take all the facts into consideration.

Later in the evening, Mr E. H. Crabb, president of the Hydro-Electric League, in defending the policy of the League in the past, contended that it had justified its existence. He added, however, that no one more than he appreciated the work that had been accomplished, and the progress that was being made to-day. Mr Coates was a man of his word, and when he said the work would be finished in 1923 he believed it would be done.