PUBLIC WORKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1938, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS

NEARLY TWENTY MILLIONS TO BE SPENT PROGRAMME DEFENDED BY MINISTER PROVIDING FOR COMING NEEDS Expenditure last year by the Public Works Department reached a record, the gross amount being £11,868,931. This was disclosed in the annual report of the department which was tabled by the Minister in Charge, the Hon R. Semple, in the House of Representatives yesterday. It is proposed this year to spend 12,757,200, of which £4,784,000 or 38 per cent of the total, will come from revenue. In addition, £6,887,500 will be expended within the Public Works Fund, but under the control of other Ministers, making a total expenditure of £19,644,700. In asking Parliament’s approval of his programme, the Minister says he has no apology to make as “every penny will be expended within a well-plan-ned and far-sighted policy.” He contends that it is futile to plan without giving consideration to the future needs of the country. “I feel,” he states, “that we have now arrived at a time when we can better forsee our needs and provide for them. - A country that stands still will go back, science, engineering skill and ingenuity and increasing human needs compel us to advance.”