Communications and transit > Enquiry on national public works

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(f) Provision of Gravitation Water Suppeies and Sewerage Schemes.
I.
(a) The responsibility for the carrying-out of waterworks and sewerage schemes
rests with the local sanitary authorities, who are charged with the duty of administering
the statutory enactments relating to public health.
Between 1929 and 1932, 345 such works were undertaken at a total average yearly
cost of about £250,000.
(b) During the financial year 1933-34, 77 public health works were in course of
execution and the total expenditure thereon is estimated at about £250,000.
(c) A further programme of public health works similar to those indicated under (a)
and (b) is in contemplation. The cost is estimated at £350,000 for the present financial
year (1934-35)-
II.
As stated under head I, local authorities are charged with the duty of providing
essential sanitary services within their respective areas, and they are empowered to
borrow moneys for the financing of such works, subject to the sanction of the Department
of Bocal Government and Public Health. Before giving sanction, the Department requires
to be satisfied as to the general merits of the scheme proposed and the suitability of the
plans for its execution.
III.
In the financial years ended March 31st, 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1934, the Government
made available sums for the financing of works for the relief of unemployment. A sum of
£300,000 was provided in 1930-31, £250,000 in 1931-32, £1,500,000 in 1932-33, and £550,000
in I933-34- Such sums are normally met out of revenue. Many new public health works
were initiated in these years and a proportion of the relief funds were allocated in aid of
the execution thereof. The balance of the expenditure on public health works was met by
the local authorities by way of loans advanced, in most cases, by the Government out
of the L,ocal Doans Fund, repayable over a period of twenty-five years.
IV.
The labour content of contract work on a waterworks scheme is estimated at from
47 5° % °f the cost. If indirect labour benefits resulting from the work are taken into
consideration, the labour content would be about 55%. All cast-iron pipes required for
such schemes are imported.
The labour content of contract work on a sewerage scheme would be about 50%
where sewer-pipes are imported. The manufacture of concrete sewer-pipes in the Free
State was begun in 1932, and these pipes are being increasingly utilised for sewerage
schemes, with consequent benefits to home labour in the manufacture and transport
of pipes, and in the work of quarrying, etc., for concrete aggregate. The calculation of
these items would bring the total labour content of sewerage schemes to about 65%
of the cost.
V.
The carrying-out of works of sanitary improvement is necessitated primarily by
reference to public health requirements. While such works are in progress, they afford
useful employment over periods of from six to twelve months. The value of such schemes
as an employment factor is handicapped by the fact that they do not fit easily into a