PUBLIC WORKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1940, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS

SCALE OF EXPENDITURE CRITICISED REDUCTION ADVOCATED BY OPPOSITION. AMENDMENT PROPOSED. ' (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. When the House of Representatives met at 10.30 a.m. discussion of the Public Works Statement was begun by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Hamilton.) who drew attention to the steep increase in public works expenditure since 1933. The amount had risen from 31 millions in that year to over 23 millions last year. This year, he said, it was proposed that expenditure on public works should be about £20.500.000 and he urged the Minister to reduce it as much as possible, especially in view of the cost of the Dominion's war effort. Mr Hamilton urged the Minister to take back the Public Works Estimates with a view to a reduction in expenditure. Mr W. J. Broadfoot also urged a reduction in expenditure on public works, but ho congratulated the Government on its Native Settlement programme, which was an effort to solve a grave problem, namely what to do with the Maori people and how to help them rehabilitate themselves. Mr Broadfoot moved an amendment to the motion that the House go into Committee of Supply, on which the debate on the Public Works Estimates is taking place, to the effect that the Public Works Estimates be referred back to the Government with a view to a substantial reduction in expenditure other than war expenditure. Sir A. Ransom seconded the motion. Mr W. A. Bodkin advocated the establishment of a land settlement scheme on the Maniatoto Plain, in Central Otago. Mr J. Robertson (Masterton) challenged members of the Opposition to indicate the public works expenditure in their own electorates which should be cut. out. Mr S. G. Holland: “That’s the Government's job." Mr Robertson continued that the country would not be fit to live in if development works wore cut out. Mr Fraser: "The amendment would bring back unemployment, starvation and soup kitchens. Mr A. E. Jull said the Opposition was not asking that all works be abandoned, but that they should be slowed down. The debate was interrupted by the luncheon adjournment at 1 p.m.