Communications and transit > Enquiry on national public works

3i
From the date of the enactment mentioned to 1929, construction work progressed
to a point where a terminal elevator had been completed at Sydney and 93 grain elevators
had been erected at country railway stations, providing in all a storage capacity of
22,370,000 bushels.
(a) Work undertaken and completed since 1929.
Since 1929, the Department of Agriculture has undertaken and completed the
construction of a further 46 grain elevators at country stations, thereby increasing the
storage capacity by 3,980,000 bushels and providing a State system for bulk handling
of wheat comprising one terminal elevator and 139 elevators at 138 country railway
stations, with a total storage capacity of 26,350,000 bushels.
(b) Work in Course of Execution.
In addition to the completed works mentioned, a current construction programme
provides for 11 additional country grain elevators; extensions to 12 existing country
grain elevators; additions to the terminal elevator, Sydney; and the erection of a terminal
elevator at the port of Newcastle. These works, with the exception of the terminal
elevator at Newcastle, will be completed by January 1935. The terminal at Newcastle
will be finished about October or November 1935.
The additions to 12 existing country elevators, the erection of 4 new country elevators,
and the foundation for the terminal elevator at Newcastle are being built by the Depart¬
ment of Agriculture, under the day-labour system. The remaining works, including the
main structure at Newcastle, are being carried out for the Department under the contract
system.
(c) Work in Contemplation.
On June 15th, 1934, the New South Wales Government authorised a further
programme embracing 25 new country elevators, together with 8 additions to existing
country elevators.
When all the works contemplated under (b) and (c) have been completed, the system
for bulk handling of wheat will comprise :
Storage capacity
Bushels
i terminal elevator at Sydney 7,375,000
1 terminal elevator at Newcastle 850,000
175 country grain elevators at 174 country railway
stations 25,370,000
Total... 33,595,000
and the objective of the Government to provide bulk handling facilities for an average
State harvest will be within measurable distance of attainment.
II. Administrative Methods.
As already indicated, the work has been, and will be, carried out partly by contract
and partly by day labour.
The work is supervised by officers of the Department of Agriculture.
Award rates of pay and conditions of employment, as prescribed by Commonwealth
and State industrial arbitration courts, govern the various classes of labour employed.