20a["Public Works in the North-West", The West Australian, Saturday 17 February 1912, page 11]

PUBLIC WORKS IN THE NORTH-WEST.

A MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Considerable attention is being paid by the Government to the question of the development of the North-West, and the Estimates for the current financial year provide for the expenditure of a comparatively large sum of money for the construction and maintenance of public works in that portion of the State. Yesterday afternoon the Minister for Works informed a "West Australian" reporter that he was making arrangements to make a visit of inspection to the different centres north of Geraldton, and he intended to leave Perth somewhere about the middle of April. He would travel by the Government steamer Penguin, and he intended to make a thorough inspection of all the works in course of construction, and of the localities where others were contemplated along the coast as far north as Wyndham. The programme would be so arranged that he would be able to travel inland from Port Hedland to Marble Bar to inspect the railway and the public buildings, etc. It was his intention to reorganise the whole of the staff along the north-west coast. His idea was to have a thoroughly competent district engineer who would be domiciled at Port Hedland, with competent and active foremen stationed at the different centres. He did not expect, however, to complete the work of reorganisation until after he had visited the North West, so that he would know from personal observation exactly what was required.

20b["Off to the Cyclone Zone", The Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 21 April 1912, page 9]

OFF TO THE CYCLONE ZONE

Mr. Johnson Goes North-West.

The Minister for Public Works leaves for the North-West tomorrow. Ever since he assumed office Mr. Johnson has felt that the reorganisation of the Public Works' operations in that part of the State was necessary. Therefore he intends to visit every port and place where his officers are located, and to look into affairs personally. He will be accompanied by Mr. Tindal, who has been appointed District Engineer in the North-west, and it is expected that their investigations will occupy a couple of months. Meanwhile Honorary Minister Angwin will administer the Public Works Department.

20c["Minister for Works", The Northern Times (Carnarvon, WA), Saturday 04 May 1912, page 4]

MINISTER FOR WORKS

VISIT TO CARNARVON

A Busy Day

Formal Reception

The informal reception on the Penguin's arrival on Saturday night was supplemented by a formal citizens' welcome on Monday morning in the

music-room of the Settlers' Hotel. The Mayor presided, and in extending a welcome on behalf of the council and the townspeople said that it was the first time in the history of Carnarvon that they had had an opportunity of welcoming a representative of a Labor Government. It was not

long since the Scaddan Ministry had taken office, and they had not yet had time to show what they could do, but he thought they were moving along the right track to make the country progress. (Applause.)

Mr. W. E. Fenner, on behalf of the Gascoyne-Minilya Road Board, added to the welcome. lt was the first occasion the North-West had been visited by so large a political party, and he hoped in the future this large portion of the State would get the attention it deserved.

Mr. Whitlock, for the pastoralists and the Chamber of Commerce, also welcomed the visitors. The visit was an earnest to the district that the parliamentarians were viewing their responsibilities very seriously indeed. He had no doubt the Minister would grant them that afternoon whatever he deemed the district reasonably required.

Mr. W. D. Johnson, on rising to reply, was heartily received. He said the trip was being undertaken to view the requirements of the North-West. The Scaddan Ministry felt that to govern a country well it was necessary to see it. Not long after the Ministry was sworn in, the North-West members waited on the Government to arrange the tour. He found on inquiry that much money had to be spent in the North-West, totalling about £70,000. He also found that maintenance had been much neglected, and this might mean heavy expenditure on reconstruction unless action

was immediately taken. So it was thought essential that the Minister for Works should come and personally inspect that portion of the State where such large expenditure was proposed. He was determined to thoroughly reorganise the staff so as to get better results. Mr. Tindale had been appointed engineer for the North-West. He would control all the supervisors and district foremen, of course subject to the engineer-in-chief. The North West was isolated and difficult to supervise, and it was therefore essential to have the very best man for the post. Such a man they had secured in Mr. Tindale. (Applause.)

After the tour, Mr. Tindale and he would discuss in Perth the requirements of the North-West, and he hoped they would get better attention than had been given in the past. Not having had a man in office who personally knew the North-West, they have hd to administer by file knowledge. He believed the coast had not been treated in the best way in the matter of the shipping of stock and the marketing of produce. The Government had gone to the extent of deciding to put a boat on the coast themselves. (Applause.) If they later on found it was in the interest of the people that more boats should be put on, they would do so. (Continued applause.)

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