DEVELOPMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1922, Page 6

DEVELOPMENT.

THE WAY TO PROSPERITY. IMPROVED PUBLIC WORKS METHODS Feilding, May 10. Changes that have been made for the improvement of the public works methods of the Government were referred to by the Prime Minister in his speech at Feilding to-night. Mr. Massey repeated also his declaration, made many times previously, that this country needs development to ensure a return to prosperity. “If we are to get back to prosperity within a reasonable time,” said Mr. Massey, “we must do everything that it is possible to do as far as the development of the country is concerned. This includes the construction of roads and railways, the generation of hydro-electricity, the extension of telegraphs and telephones, the building of schools, and many other works. In the carrying through of public works very important changes have been made in the last two years. A large number of steam diggers and motor-lorries have been imported from England, and they are being used on the different public works. There are no fewer men employed; as a matter of fact, the number has been increased, but the works are proceeding much more expeditiously than before, and they are costing considerably less. The taxpayers are getting better value for their money, and the settlers will not have to wait so long for their roads, or railways, or hydro-electric power. For the swamp drainage works steam dredges have been imported, and are now at work at several places, and much of the hard and unpleasant work done by manual labor in days past is now being done by machinery. The drainage of these large swamps in different parts has contributed in a very important degree to the increased output of dairy produce from the Dominion, and we can no longer allow swamps such as Hikurangi. the drainage of which was commenced recently, to lie idle. Land must be found for new settlers, and made available for cultivation or for pastoral purposes.”