The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1920. PROMISE AND PRACTISE.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1920. PROMISE AND PRACTISE.

The Hon. Coates, in the Public Works Statement, makes this observation:—"Carrying on a number of works with insufficient employees increases overhead expenses and renders satisfactory progress impossible. It is far better to fully man and vigorously prosecute a smaller number of works. "With the idea of concentrating available resources in men, plant and money certain proposals for the temporary postponement of works which are now being carried on in a small way will be,read below." These works include the Ruakaka section of the "Waipu branch line, nine miles in length, and the men engaged twenty-five; the Waikura section of the Gisborne-Wairoa line; and the third is the proposal, in reference to the Tahora section of the Stratford Main Trunk, to make Tahora the terminus and '' discontinue extensive operations" beyond that point, since in that neighborhood "there is little settlement and it can be served by a terminus at Tahora." When the Minister first proclaimed his intention to concentrate on main works, leaving alone tlie subsidiary ones until the essential works were completed and revenue earning, he was applauded throughout the Dominion. "Here," all said, "is the strong man for whom we have been looking, who has the courage to carry into effect a policy consistent with the true interests of the

sectional interests." For too long had the Public Works system of New Zealand been, in the words of the Auckland Herald, "a ma^li• we for registering the influence of local agitations upon timid politicians, and for spending money according to the dictate?; of political j expediency." But what is the actual position? We have seen above that the Minister proposes to discontinue work on three sections of lines. In the year 191819 railway construction was carried out on twenty-nine sections. Last year construction proceeded on thirty-nine sections, whilst for the current year there ai;e votfs on the Estimates for no fewer than 42 sections. Further, £754 was spent last year on surveys of new lines, Mr. Coates is asking for £2500 for this purpose for the current year. It will thus be seen that, Mr. Coates' claims are in no way substantiated. The old system wllicb. he condemned so strongly is being perpetuated, only in a worse degree than ever. As a matter of fact, he can have no regard for doing "first things first," or he would never think of stopping work altogether on one section of what we unhesitatingly claim to; be the most important railway under construction in New Zealand to-day. We refer to the Tahora section of the Stratford Main Trunk line. No one can blame him for pushing on with the work at the other end, where the country is much easier, and greater progress can be made, but it is just as important to the country that the more difficult work at this end should receive similar attention, for, involving as it does many tunnels and heavy cuttings and fiilings, only a limited number of men can be engaged at a time on the work, which will therefore occupy some time to complete, and until the line is joined up the Dominion must suffer great loss in the way of interest on the money sunk in the line in revenue from the opening up of the big area of fertile country the railway will serve. Of the 42 sections on which the Department is engaged, not one is so important as the Tahora section. The East Coast line and the northern line, cannot compare with the Stratford line, from a national point of view. Both the North and the East Coast are also exceptionally well served by waterways or ports, whilst Taranaki's hinterland, on the other hand, is without communications of any kind, except, of course, summer roads, or tracks. If Mr. Coates were really sincere in his intention to pursue a national system, he would have placed the 'Tahora section, as well as the Ohura section, of the Stratford main trunk, in the forefront so far as main railway lines are concerned. But he is perpetuating in an aggravated form the very practice he has so roundly condemned. Let him concentrate his steam shovels and other mechanical methods he refers to in the Statement upon the works that really matter, and stop worlc on the remaining thirty or forty sections until the main ones are out of the way. If he but insisted upon this truly national policy he would have the support of the majority of the public. His attitude over the Tahora section proves that he is yielding to local influences in a degree greater than any of his predecessors. Auckland, more vocal and insistent than any other province, has managed to arrange that most of the money, material and labour available shall be utilised in that province. But even Auckland should recognise the advantages of pushing on with the Stratford line from both ends. Certainly a stronger case can be made out for its immediate construction than any other line. Yet it would seem that the Minister rather prides himself upon the fact of including it among the three sections he is "scrapping" for the present. It is pleasing to notice ~that the Taranaki public bodies are not taking the rebuff without protest, and we hope united and strong efforts will be made to induce the Government to change its extraordinary decision in this respect.

provisions dealing with restriction of rent are also satisfactory, the owner being allowed a net return of seven per cent, on the capital value of the house, Hie Magistrate being allowed to take into consideration the landlord's payment, for rates, insurance, repairs, deprcchiiion, and loss by defaulting tenants. Whether this will induce private builders to erect houses to let is doubtful but the intention is certainly goojfe, One of the most important clauses is that dealing'with -nib-letting rooms in a house to various tenants, magistrates being given power to fix fair rents, while one of the grounds on which an owner may apply for possession of a house is that it is beiiig sub-let for profit. This should stamp out a great evil which has proved most oppressive to lodgers It is to be hoped that Harbor Boards have been given the same facilities for building houses as are possessed by municipalities, and if this provision has not been made it should be embodied in the Bill. Apparently the door has been left open for practical amendments, and there should be no dearth of suggestions to help towards the solution of this urgent problem.