Taranaki Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1920. PUBLIC WORKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1920, Page 4

Taranaki Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1920. PUBLIC WORKS.

Now that the Hon. J. G. Coates has taken over the administration of the Public Works Department, the public will certainly look for the inauguration of a progressive policy—long overdue. By progressive, we do not mean merely that the long-delayed works will move ahead more expeditiously, but that up-to-date methods will be used in the shape of mechanical contrivances ; that the day of the shovel and barrow are over, and the era of the steam or electrical shovel is at hand. It will, of course, take the new Minister some time to become acquainted with the affairs of his department, and he will necessarily have to depend largely on the chief officers for guidance. At the same time, though he may have no technical knowledge to assist him ill his duties, he should at least be able to make a reliable estimate of the personnel of the department, ascertain where strength and modern views are to be found, where weakness or hoary methods exist. and which are the men most likely to cope vigorously and successfully with the requirements of the Dominion. The task Mr. Coates has to face is one that will test his administrative qualities severely, and one, moreover, that will need courage and determination if the wasteful methods of the past are to give way to forceful initiative, broad policy, and the elimination of wire-pulling by politicians. If he possesses sufficient backbone to put an end to the iniquitous methods that made grants for public works dependent on the clamor of members of Parliament for their respective constituencies, instead of concentrating on the works of the most urgent importance, he will deserve well of his country. It is little wonder that under such circumstances votes for public works came to be regarded as bribes to the electors, and, however able and energetic the chief officers of the Department may be—undoubtedly there are good men in the service—they were powerless to work on a satisfactory system, so the public would certainly welcome a change for the better. Mr. Coates has yet to prove his fitness for the office he has undertaken, and the public will watch keenly for results after the Minister has had time to get hold of the numerous strings he will have to handle. The work of the Department has been increased by hydro-electrical schemes, which the whole of the Dominion is anxious to see in operation. Possessing a good working majority in Parliament, the Government. has a favorable opportunity of securing the necessary votes to enable satisfactory progress to be made on the most pressing works. That a speeding-up is required is evidenced by the fact that last year, in spite of the employment of hundreds of workers, and the ex- • nendjture of much money, not a

mile of railway was added to open lines. There is much force in the following comments recently made by the Auckland .Star:— "The policy of building main lines slowly and adding a mile or two here and there to 'branch lines, must add very greatly to the capital cost of railways. At the present moment about three millions is sunk in unopened lines. This slow progress and dissipation of energy means that higher rates have to be charged so that interest can be earned, and that the development of the country is retarded. Do the railwaymen realise that there is a connection between this policy and their wages? Cheaper construction would mean that the Department could afford to pay higher wages without raising rates. In England railways wore overcapitalised 'through the exorbitant prices exacted for land, and this overcapitalisation affected dividends, and wages. Here we have made the same mistake in a different way. To put it in terms that will appeal to everybody, a wasteful public works policy raises the cost of living. The policy and methods of the Department require reorganising. If a line is to be built, it should be built quickly, and the most up-to-date methods should be applied."

It would seem that the Minister might well mark his new regime by evolving and announcing the systemisation of the Public Works policy on sound, businesslike lines, and by the most approved laborsaving methods, thus bringing into revenue bearing the lines which have for years past been slowly creeping forward. There has never been any well-defined policy of public works in the Dominion. This blot should no longer be allowed to exist. It is not a question of sweeping reforms, but of cutting adrift from aimless methods and instituting a business system that makes for economy, efficiency, and vigorous execution.