RAKE’S PROGRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 September 1938, Page 9

RAKE’S PROGRESS

MR FORBES ON PUBLIC WORKS NO FORESIGHT BEING SHOWN (By Telegraph —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The capacity of New Zealand to stand up to an expenditure of £20,000,000 in one year on public works was questioned by the Rt Hon G. W. Forbes (Opposition, Hurunui), during the debate on the Public Works Statement in the House of Representatives yesterday. “We are told that this vast expenditure is prudent administration. I think it is comparable to the Rake’s Progress,” said Mr Forbes. No foresight whatever was being shown by the Government continued Mr Forbes. It imagined that so long as more and more men were put on as navvies all was well. The Minister of Labour, the Hon H. T. Armstrong: “What did you do with them?” Mr Forbes: “Even with the limited number we had we were accused of making this a nation of navvies. Today Labour members are throwing their hats in the air because thousands more have been put on.” Mr W. J. Polson (Opposition, Stratford): “They have a navvy psychology.” Mr Forbes: “The test is, how permanent will all this work be. When times are bad a certain amount of relief has to be provided, but we are now going through one of the prosperous times in our history.” Government: “Hear, hear.”

Mr Forbes: “According to the Budget the Government is going to receive in taxation something like £30,000,000— a record. In spite of that we have an army of public works men, and it is increasing all the time. We are going along a road that is going to make it difficult for this country in the years to come.” Mr Armstrong: “Poor old calamity George!” Mr Forbes: “We are told it is prudent administration. Forgive me for disagreeing with that belief. We have got to look at things soberly. I like to see our roads improved. The questions is, can we afford to pour out £20,000,000 in one year on public works. My belief is that it can’t be done without throwing the whole of the economic structure out of balance.