Communications and transit > Enquiry on national public works

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II. — The works in Group I [a), (b) and (c) above have been carried out by order
of the Central Authority—the Union Government. No large contracts have been
let for any portions of these works, but petty contracts and piecework have been
instituted wherever possible on works carried out by departmental organisation.
HI. — The above works have been financed by the extraordinary or loan budget
of the State, certain sums sufficient for carrying on the work for twelve months having
been voted by Parliament at the commencement of each financial year. The loan
programme of the Union Government has in the past been financed partly by external
loans and partly by internal. The tendency at the present time is to endeavour to
raise funds within the Union of South Africa.
IV. _ Materials and equipment provided by national industries would amount
to approximately 25 por cent of the above figures, and that having origin in foreign
industries approximately 5 Per cent. Labour and miscellaneous social expenditure
will account for the remaining 70 per cent.
V. — The opinion of the Union Government is that the construction of irrigation
works is a sound investment on which to spend money for the relief of unemployment,
in that the conservation of water is of vital importance to the future of the Union
territory, which suffers periodically from severe drought.
8. MANDATED TERRITORY OF SOUTH WEST AFRICA :
MEMORANDUM BY THE DIRECTOR OF WORKS OF THE SOUTH WEST
AFRICAN ADMINISTRATION.
{a) Road Building and Maintenance.
Since 1931, the Administration of South West Africa has employed on an average
between 200 and 300 European labourers on the building and improvement of main
roads in the territory. This work has absorbed the major portion of our unemployed
since the beginning of the depression. The expenditure of approximately £20,000 per
annum has been met out of loan funds. The work is confined largely to drainage
and surface improvement, and the placing of road metal is only done on special sections.
The main roads are approximately 6,000 miles in extent.
(&) The Omatjenne Irrigation Scheme.
This is a water-conservation scheme intended for irrigation settlement. It consists
of an earthen dam constructed 12 miles from the village of Otjiwarongo in a region
with an annual rainfall of 15 inches. The capacity of the dam is 248 million cubic feet.
The scheme will probably accommodate twenty settlers, who will combine irrigation
and other farming. ,
The work was carried out by the Administration with European relief labour.
The scheme, with canal system, will be completed during this winter. The dam
embankment was constructed with scrapers and oxen and donkeys. The facing
of the dam was done in stone pitching and lime mortar, the lime being produced locally.