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The assembly of one of the large tower excavators imported from America has been completed, and in November last the machine was put to work straightening the channel of the Otaki River. This is one of three machines purchased chiefly for rivercontrol work. I wish here to pay a tribute to the officers and technicians who without previous experience or instruction assembled the giant machine at Otaki River and successfully learned to operate it. The machines have a span of 1,000 ft., a turret 130 ft. high, and the huge bucket holds 18 tons of shingle. In actual operation on the Otaki River this machine, - working two ten-hour shifts per day, has averaged approximately 300 cubic yards per hour. This machine is being used for the training of personnel to staff the other two machines for the South Island. Main repair workshops are being established at Sockburn and Mangere, and accommodation is being erected at both places for the workmen. Many plant items have been diverted to opencast coal-mining and to sawmilling operations, while several large compressors loaned by the Public Works Department played a big part in salvage operations on the M.v. " Wanganella." SERVICES TO OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND LOCAL BODIES Not the least important of the functions of the Ministry of Works are those professional and general services rendered to many Government Departments and numerous local bodies which can be correctly described as most comprehensive in scope and character. In this connection the past year presented the usual demand for these services, particularly in the field of engineering work and investigations, architectural and town-planning services, valuations, purchase of supplies, advertising tenders and arranging contracts, maintenance and reconditioning of plant, legal services, and land purchases. Under the wartime agreement made with the three Defence Services, which still continues, the Public Works Department is responsible for the general maintenance of camps, barracks, aerodromes, and other defence establishments. The extent of this work can be gauged by the fact that it provides regular employment for over nine hundred workmen in addition to contractors' employees. To the services mentioned and rendered during the past year must be added the work involved in the handling of the whole of the construction plant, workshop machinery and other equipment, timber, steel huts, hardware, and general stores purchased by the War Assets Realization Board from the United States Services in the Pacific. This work was, of course, in addition to the plant, &c., purchased by my Department for its own use and already referred to in this report. Eleven ships, each with a complete cargo aggregating 47,000 tons, were expeditiously cleared. My staff also rendered much assistance to the War Assets Realization Board in the valuation, salvage, and disposal of buildings, plant, machinery, and stores. PUBLIC WORKS WORKERS' AGREEMENT I "recently renewed the Public Works Workers' agreement for a further period of two years from Ist April, 1947. The revised agreement provides for a wage increase approximating ss. per week for all Public Works Department's employees, and this raises their remuneration to a level commensurate generally with the rates provided for similar workers operating under industrial awards. A general all-round improvement has been effected in working-conditions, including recreational amenities in isolated-localities. In this connection I wish to acknowledge the willing co-operation at all times of the Young Men's Christian Association National Headquarters Council. The Y.M.C.A. has for many years conducted recreational

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