PUBLIC WORKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 September 1941, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS

STATEMENT & ESTIMATES URGENCY/GRANTED IN HOUSE. PROGRAMME DEFENDED BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. There was no formal business when the House of Representatives met at 10.30 a.m. and an immediate start was made with the discussion of the Public Works Statement and Estimates, for the passing of which urgency was granted. Discussion the Public Works Statement, the Minister of Public Works (Mr Armstrong) explained that the reason why the cost of public works appeared to be so high was that the Department was called on to do work for many other Departments. Actual public works had been restricted to those jobs which were fully justified and any work that could stand over until after the war would be treated accordingly. The agitation for work to be done in individual districts. the Minister observed, was just as strong as ever.

Continuing the debate, Sir Alfred Ransom expressed the opinion that the expenditure on highways was wasteful and extravagant. Mr H. G. Dickie stressed the wasteful expenditure on the haulage of flax for the woolpack industry. The Minister of Railways, Mr R. Semple, said the jute interests had tried to sabotage the New Zealand flax industry. The first pack produced had been deliberately spoiled by a man who left the country shortly afterwards, but. New Zealand sheep-farmers remained loyal to New Zealand produce and now Australian wool-grow-ers wanted the flax pack for fine merino wool.

The debate was interrupted by adjournment at 1 p.m.