"MOST EXTRAVAGANT”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 490, 20 October 1928, Page 6

"MOST EXTRAVAGANT”

PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER ON GRAND LOAN BAY OF PLENTY SEAT (Special to THE SUN) GISBORNE, Friday. Although taken by surprise by the huge borrowing policy of Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon. K. S. Williams believes that the United Leader had surprised and embarrassed his foliow’ers more than he had his opponents. Mr. Williams has started upon a tour of his electorate, the Bay of Plenty, which is one of the most scattered in the Dominion. The Minister has no doubts as to the security of his seat, but he wishes to meet as many of his constituents as possible. If members of the United Party who were in Parliament had been consistent in any one thing it had been in attacking tho Government for excessive borrowing, said Mr. Williams. Now they had been placed in the remarkable position of having to support what was probably the most extravagant policy ever enunciated in the Dominion—a policy rivalled only by the Labour Government of Australia.

“I honestly believe we have laid a very soiid foundation,” the Minister said, in referring to the system adopted for road construction and maintenance, and for the control of traffic. ‘Of course the problem is not completely mastered. We still have to feel our way, and no doubt there will be a number of minor changes required, but the foundation is right.” Transport problems were not peculiar to New Zealand; every country in the world had to face the same difficulty, and, unlike many national questions, it was not one which had developed gradually with the progress of tho country, but one which had suddenly appeared. His experience as Minister thoroughly convinced him of the wisdom of placing the main highways under the control of one board. This system was as near perfect as possible*