PUBLIC WORKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1919, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS.

DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S CRITICISM. NOT A PAR-REACHING POLICY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, Sir William Fraser moved that the House go into Committee of Supply to consider the Public Works Estimates. In criticising the Public Works Statement, Sir Joseph Ward paid a tribute to the work done by Sir William Fraser as a Minister of the Crown, and on the eve of his departure from public life he wished him long and happy days in a quieter sphere. With regard to the statement itself he considered it lacked a broad, courageous, and far-reaching policy, which would vitalise the resources of the Dominion, and which -would enable the people to make the most profitable use of their resources. He found there were fifteen different railways being constructed at the same time, but the votes for many of these were so small that not more than a mile to five miles could be completed in a year. This snail's pace was not going to give any assistance to settlers, and was not going to give any help to the policy under which we hoped to put the soldiers and people generally on the land. , He found fault with the small sums provided for roads, bridges, and backblock conveniences, while, at the same time, a huge programme for public buildings was proposed, and that programme scarcely touched buildings for education. He regarded the pjiblie works policy, as disclosed in the statement, as mistaken, misguided, and without vision in view of the reconstruction activities for which the country called. He criticised the fact that out of sixmillions proposed to be borrowed for hydro-electric schemes it was only intended to spend some £600,000 in the North Island. This might be justified by the Minister on the ground of shortage of labor, but he contended that this country could not go on without labor, and he wanted to know what the Government proposed to do to provide it. He maintained we must import labor. Hq saw no hope of getting this country through the hard years which we had (to face except by pushing on a vigorous policy of road and railway construction. Personally, he thought we . should spend four millions in three years. Messrs McCombs, McCallum, and Forbes discussed the statement from the point of view of local requirements. Dr. Newman made an appeal for more "ginger" being put into the public works policy, especially the hydro-electric schemes. THE CALL FOR HOUSES. When the House resumed at 7.30 p.m. the discussion on the Public Works Estimates was continued by Mr. P. Fraser, who expressed disappointment that insufficient provision ha<l been made for housing, and urged the organisation of labor and building materials on national lines. If wages were made sufficient to support workers' families there would be no lack of labor for public works. Mr. R. P. Hudson complained that the South Island was not treated fairly in the provision made for railway extension, as compared with the North Island, instancing specially the GlenhopeMurehison and TC'ce^on-West port lines. Mr. Hudson hoped everything possible would be done to improve housing accommodation, even if labor was diverted temporarily from public buildings to meet the more urgejit needs of the people. The wages of workers and the salaries of experts must also be improved to get the best results from public works expenditure. Mr. O. Witty urged that the Gtira Tunnel be hurried ,on and the. line electrified, as it was a matter of national importance. Mr. G. J. Anderson stressed the need for providing assured finance for local bodies and recasting the methods of carrying out public works. The present system produced too much waste. DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY. Mr. W. T. Jennings urged concentre tion of effort so that feWer public works would be carried on simultaneously and completed expeditiously. Mr. A. Han-is expressed disappointment. at the absence of mention of n vote for a Waitemata railway, which, if carried out, would reduce the distance to be travelled northward by twentyfive miles, as compared with the present North Auckland railway. Mr Colvin pleaded for greater expedition in the prosecution of West Coast railway works. The Hon. G. W. Russell declared the great effort and great sacrifices made by New Zealand in the war made it imperative that the country should extend the settlement of waste spaces and increase production and population. The repatriation of soldiers need not deter the Government from embarking on sound immigration. Work could bo found for the soldiers of France, Belgium and other Allied countries in developing country, oven if free passages had to be provided for ? them. Mr. R- Semple pleaded for a more courageous policy coping with the housing question in cities, and on public works, a vigorous prosecution of the Westport-Reefton railway, which should open up very large coal deposits and which would make importation unnecessary. He added that if the conditions Were made attractive lalbor would (be obtainable to complete the Otira tunnel in less than a year. IMMIGRATION WANTED. The Hon. .T. A. Hanan regretted production showed no increase on the prewar volume and urged a more intensive settlement policy. The Hon. R. Henton Rhodes recognised the first care of the Minister must lie the baekblocUs, and therefore the much needed expenditure on tourists resorts must wait. Sir James Carroll said the whole question of public works was linked up with money and labor. He advocated a large loan to provide the one, and a vigorous immigration policy to provide the other. Mr. Wright said there was nothing like "spoils to the victors'' about, the Public Works Estimates, as the Minister seemed to be kinder to enemies rather than to friends. He favored a non-political board to distribute public works' moneys. After midnight the debate was carried on by Messrs. Seddon, Dickie, Wander, Talbot, Hunter and Smith (Wairaarino). /Wi . !