"BLOCKING PROGRESS."

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1920, Page 6

"BLOCKING PROGRESS."

CABINET MINISTER CRITICISED. EXPENDITURE OF GRANTS. tg;; A MAXIMUM WAGE. The Minister for Public Works (Sir William Eraser) came in for some severe criticism at the meeting of the Eginont County Council yesterday over the attitude he had adopted in limiting the rate of wages to be paid to 12s in connection with the expenditure of Government grants. The matter was introduced by a lettei*, which was received from Mr, Campbell (Resident Engineer for the Public Works Department), notifying that in connection with the claim of £475 on the estimates for the Okahu Road (Ngauhi to Newall Road), the Department was not willing to depart from the standard rate of 12s per day. The chairman said that the Council could not get men to work on the road for less than His," so apparently the Council would have to make up the difference.

Cr. Young said Fhafc it seemed hard that the Council, which was anxious to get the work done, should have to pay the extra 4s per day out of its own pocket. Cr. O'Brien said that it was ridiculous that the Government should make a grant, the expenditure of which saddled the County Council with an additional 4s pff day. He considered that Sir William Eraser was blocking progress. The Council had several unexpended grants on 'the Wirenui Road, and in addition there was another £ISOO on the estimates, but they were not allowed to spend a farthing unless the Council paid the excess in wages- It was utterly •impossible now to get men for 12s per day, especially on a back road, where men required 2s or 3s per day extra. The Minister was perfectly safe in making grants, which he knew, could not be availed of under the present conditions. It was, he considered, an important matter to the Council to get the Wirenui road opened.

Cr- O'Brien moved that they ask the Premier to appoint as Minister of Public Works a young and energetic man, as in t!ie opinion of the Council this was in the best interests of the country. Cr. Campbell seconded. The resolution was carried. Cr. Green questioned whether the Council would be entitled to the subsidy if they paid the extra 4s. He held that they should not spend any money on the Wirenui Road until the matter was adjusted, and they should let the people know why. Cr. Young said it was" a pity primething could not be done to the road out. of the rates, as it would take traffic off the main road. The chairman said he would endeavor to invite the Minister of Public Works fo open the Puniho Bridge. Thev would then place the matter before him. The chairman then moved that the settlers be recommended to raise a loan on a subsidy basis for metalling Wireniii Road. This received no seconder. Cr. O'Brien moved that the whole of the rates from land abutting on the Wirenui Road and right up to the Mountain Reserve, less the cost of administration and a sum' for the cost of carrying the produce up that land on the Main South Road, should he devoted to the Wirenui Road. The chairman said that ho would not Accent this. Ho could accept it if it applied to the 13-lfld struck for the bye roads. Tn the course of discussion it was nointcd out that only a small portion of the road between Sanders Road and the VI area Road was-a Government road. The Engineer was authorised to inppect some bad places on the road and report at next meeting.