["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.
