PUBLIC WORKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 November 1938, Page 7

PUBLIC WORKS

VIEWS OF BUSINESS MEN PROMOTION OF INDUSTRIES URGED (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 3. , Various aspects of the Government’s public works policy were the subject of criticism by speakers representing several centres at the conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce tonight. Two remits on the subject from Dunedin and Auckland respectively, were considered and adopted after long discussion. The Dunedin remit urged that Government expenditure on public works should be directed into reproductive channels, with particular reference to increasing the country's agricultural and pastoral production. Although recognising the desirability of good roads and railways, those supporting the remit contented that more attention should be given to developing the real exportable wealth of the Dominion. Irrigation, ’draining, and swamp settlement were quoted as projects deserving of greater expenditure in order to achieve the end proposed. The opinion that the present Public Works expenditure was excessive, and that more of the capital works should be reserved for a time of lower export prices, was expressed in an Auckland remit. The mover, Mr A. M. Seaman, said it was during a period of prosperity that there was the greatest incentive to the growth of industrial production and for the essaying of ventures new to the Dominion.

“By such means,” he added, “substantial new employment is provided and much of the expansion and soncequent employment will persevere, even in the following depression. For this reason every encouragement to such expansion should be given during prosperous times, so that the rigours of later depressions may be allayed.