The Daily News. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1920. PUBLIC WORKS POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 October 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1920. PUBLIC WORKS POLICY.

The Public Works Statement dehvered by the Hon. J. G. Coates on Friday evening brought into focus the various changes in policy and methods of execution which the Minister has from time to time referred to since lie took over the portfolio. The outstanding features of this new policy are decentralisation as a means of placing more direct responsibility on the officials of the department; the encouragement of the small contract system by groups of men, who are to be supplied with machinery and material on charge ; making the conditions of employment more attractive by supplying amusement halls and canteens; separating the hydro-electrical work and placing it in charge of a special branch, besides setting up an advisory board, and later to control the business side of the enterprise; classifying railway construction works in their order of importance, due consideration being given to the amount of money available; the employment of new and more economical methods of construction, in which labor-saving appliances will play a prominent part, being concentrated on certain definite works and then moved on to the next undertakings of importance; and the construction of light railways. This new policy possesses features which cannot fail to be commended by the public. It is the first time the work of the Department has been systematised and business-like methods adopted, though it is doubtful whether the £200,000 sanctioned tor the necessary machinery will be found sufficient for the purpose, or that during the current financial year there will be time for it to show that largely increased progress in public works that is so greatly desired. Already the Department has eleven steam shovels engaged on earthworks, together with ten locomotives .attending them, but it is hoped within the' next few months to increase the number of steam shovels and locomotives to thirty-four. Jt is also satisfactory to learn that increasing use is being made of mechanical traction for transport : and grading machinery, besides .which fiioiiMU'ttsliiae and eeoerete

mixing machinery is to be installed wherever work of any magnitude is in hand. It is quite evident that Mr. Coates has taken great pains to evolve a practical system that has the appearance of being able to make up in large measure the leeway caused by the almost total cessation of public works during the war. The methods heretofore in vogue would certainly have failed to make any impression on the arrears, and at the present cost of labor and materials would have been unpardonably wasteful in time and money. The decentralisation principle should have the effect of bringing to the front the officers of the Department who are most conspicuous for ability, initiative, and dynamic force. The results achieved will speak for themselves, and if a satisfactory system of promotion is inaugurated, the Public Works staff should speedily earn a reputation second to none. The Minister has outlined an acceptable policy in plain, straight-forward terms that should appeal to all sections of the community, and it is to be hoped that his zeal for the public welfare will have the effect of enthusing the officers of the Department, and will also have a stimulative effect on the men engaged on public works, especially those undertaking contract work. Much depends on the tact of the supervising officers, but it will be to their interest to make things go smoothly in order to secure the best results under the new system.