PUBLIC WORKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 July 1942, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS

EMPLOYMENT AFTER THE WAR FOR FOURTEEN THOUSAND MEN. OVER PERIOD OF TWO YEARS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day.. Potential employment on public works throughout New Zealand after the war is set down by departmental engineers at 14,000 soldiers for two years, at an estimated cost of £14,000,000. This statement has been submitted to the Rehabilitation Board for consideration as part of a more extensive national scheme for the quick placement of ex-Service men in civil occupations. A programme of public works has been prepared with a view to coping with the first rush of returned men for employment. Thus it is estimated that 15,000 could be employed without delay, this total being gradually reduced so that, over a two-year period, an average of 14,000 men would be employed. ■ . The tentative scheme covers six activities, including departmental work. These are: No. of Expenditure. Workers £ Main Highways Improvemen ts 7,150.000 11,046 Settlement Roads 1,300,000 3,015 Land Improvement (including irrigation) .... 2.000,000 1.87 a Flood Control 750,000 600 Railways 1.300.000 570 Hydro-electric 1,000,000 400

The proposed expenditure on railways includes the cost of completing the Paeroa-Pokeno line and the extension of the Hutt Valley line from Waterloo to Silverstream. The million for hydro-electric development is mostly for headworks and is additional to a yearly expenditure of well over £2,000.000. The items for highways and roads cover the construction and improvement of approximately 1,710 miles of roadway—l,26o on main highways and 450 on settlement roads. The Department’s statement points out that development works necessitate comprehensive surveys and the preparation of plans at a time when the Department is under-staffed. Over 20 per cent, of the engineers are on active service overseas, and it is suggested that if the Government has decided to rely on the Public Works Department for the preparation of plans in advance, no more engineers should be allowed to leave the country. If sufficient staff to survey the proposed works cannot be obtained, it is recommended that, if circumstances permit, some of the Department’s engineers should be recalled from overseas.