PUBLIC WORKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1938, Page 8

PUBLIC WORKS

HON R. SEMPLE DEFENDS HIS POLICY. ADDRESS AT EKETAHUNA. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) EKETAHUNA, This Day. Speaking at Eketahuna last night, the Hon R. Semple (Minister of Public Works) quoted the Hon A. Hamilton as saying that it was a foolish thing to spend money on public works in good times and that the major expenditure should be reserved for slump periods. This was entirely inconsistent with the National Government’s policy, when works ceased in the slump period and an immense amount of money was lost to the country in the depreciation and sale of material. He could understand some political jackass making such a statement, but could not understand Mr Hamilton doing so. Mr Coates, without a blush on his face, had headed a large deputation to him to ask for the continuation of work on the baloon loop on which work was stopped in the slump, although an expenditure of the amount of interest on the expended money for two years would have completed the work. The Government had decided to proceed with those railways which gave some promise of saving some of the large sums of money expended by the National Government and so minimise the loss as far as possible. With respect to other works, deputations all over New Zealand of responsible men had asked for necessary works. Was it reasonable that all these should be refused in the general scheme of development?