Communications and transit > Enquiry on national public works

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IV.
The present programme of the Department is the establishment of 50,000 acres of
pines. The estimated cost is approximately £250,000. Approximately 75% of this
sum will represent wages and miscellaneous social expenditure and 25% material and
equipment.
V.
The effect of this work will be to supply a large percentage of the State’s timber
requirements. A large proportion of the expenditure on afforestation is represented
by labour, and the effect on unemployment has been considerable.
HIGHWAYS AND TOCAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT.
I. Classification of Public Works undertaken.
(a) The construction, reconstruction and repair of various roads and bridges,
including the reconstruction in bituminous penetration macadam of approximately
400 miles of main roads;
(b) Continuation of the above-mentioned work;
(c) Continuation of the above-mentioned work.
II. Methods under which the Work is carried out.
A. Departmentally—in which case contracts are let for supply of materials,
cartage, etc., and the labour is directly employed by the Department.
B. By a system of grants to local governing authorities, subject to inspection
of the work by departmental officers. These local authorities carry out much the
greater proportion of the work under a system of petty contracts.
III.
The works are financed from revenue, partly from funds voted by the State Parliament
and partly from funds received from the Commonwealth Government in respect of a
portion of duties on motor-spirit. No portion of the cost of this work is, under present
conditions, charged to any loan account. The total annual expenditure, including interest
charges, is about £700,000. ^
An approximate division of the expenditure would be
Materials
Eabour
Interest, etc
Percentage
26
52
22
V.
The work in question is part of a continuous programme for providing adequate
means of transport and communication to meet the needs of the State. The wor
incidentally provides employment for a considerable number of men. For 1934-35. it
is estimated that the average number of men directly employed by the Department wi
be 420, that an additional 70 will be employed by contractors m supplying metal, etc.,
and that, in addition, 900 men will be directly and indirectly employed by local governing
authorities in carrying out road works from departmental grants allotted.
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