PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

In the House of Representatives last night, in delivering the Public Works Statement, of which the following is a digest, the Minister for Public Works said the position was unique, in that it was the first time in the history of the Dominion that a Public Works Statement had been delivered during the currency of a war involving nearly all the gieat Powers of Europe. The Minister of Finance, in his Budget announced that it was proposed to provide largely increased ways and means for public works purposes this year, but that statement was penned prior to the outbreak of hostilities and when the money market was favourable. T*e events that have happened since have rendered it doubtful whether money can now be borrowed on advantageous terms, and on the satisfactory determination of that question must, of course, depend the carrying out of any extensive public works proposals. The statement and estimate ß had been prepared on the assumption that the requisito funds would be procurable when needed; but if, unfortunately, that proved to be erroneous, then, of course, the programme would necessarily have to be curtailed.

The expenditure of 1913—14, the largest on record, having amounted to no less a sum than £2,949,992, viz., £2.824.520 out of the Public Works Fund and allied special accounts, and £125,400 out of the Consolidated Fund, made up of railways —New construction £000,448, additions to open lines £498,449, roads £377,979, public buildings £309,G00. immigration £33.914, lighthouses, harbour works and harbour defences £9,059, tourist and health resorts £14,939, telegraph extension £392,648, development of goldlields £4889, defence works, general, £30,1%, Departmental £00,050, lands improvement £10.990, cost and discount, raising loans, etc., £105,450, Wellington - Hutt railway improvement, cr., £B, new Hutt road £4120, railways improvement account £39,563, opening up Crown lands ior settlement account £03,245, national endowment account £4282, Waihou and Ohinemuri rivers account £9032, aid to water-power works account £142,872, irrigation and water supply account £33,002. Total, £2,824,520. WAYS AND MEANS

On the Ist April. 1913, the available wayß and means for public works purposes were £620,741; and further funds were received, making a gross total of £4,009,841.

The total disbursements were £2.891,257, leaving a credit balance at the end of the year of £1,178,584.

For the current year it is proposed to provide additional funds as under: - Balance of authorised loan moneys £227,628, transfer from Consolidated Fund £350,000, proposed new loan £3,000,000, which will give a gross total of £4,750,212. Trie estimated expenditure amountß to £3,402,758, leaving an estimated balance of £1.353,454 to he carried forward to next year—l9ls-16. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. The sections of railway completed and opened for traflic during the last financial year, or since its close total 59 miles 19 chains.

On the Huntly-Awaroa line the formation is complete over the first section of three miles, and is in hand by co-operative labour over the next length of two miles and a half, which is well advanced. Five small contracts have been let, which are making fair progress, and will carry the line to a proposed station seven miles and a quarter from Huntly, where coal from the Pukemiro collieries will be delivered for transport. An addition is being made to the combined bridge over the Waikato river to carry it over the Main South road. It is hoped by the end of the ensuing summer to have the rails laid to the junction with the Pukemiro collieries line. As the works now in hand draw to a close, it is proposed to continue operations on this line in the direction!! of the Burnt bridge. The expenditure upon the railway and bridge during last financial year amounted to £16,503, and for the current year a vote of £30,000 is proposed. ROADS AND BRIDGES.

The total amount provided for road and bridge purposes on last year's appropriations wbp £785,000. The amount authorised for expenditure during the year added to the balance of authorities unexpended at 31st March, 1913, totalled £9(32,811. The expenditure for the twelve months amounted to £103,038, leaving an unexpended balance oi authorities at 31st March last of £-100,173. Between Ist April and 30Ui September a further £301,719 was

authorised for expenditure, and a further £310,713 brought to charge, making the total expenditure between Ist April, 1913, and 30th September, 1914, £810,351.

Owing to the unsettled condition of the money market after the close of last session it was not considered advisable to float the loan for public works purposes until the end of January. Prudence dictated that the authorisation of expenditure of new money should in the interim be restricted to uigent works, until such lime as further loan moneys were available. Between the passing of the public works appropriations and the raising of the loan, therefore, only metalling and other orient works were authorised. This did not however, mean that any very great restriction was placed upon expenditure, as there was a very large sum indeed in the hands of local bodies in the shape of authontns previously issued but unxpended. The prudence then exercised has resulted in our being able at the present juncture to keep public works going, and so relieve "unemployed," difficulties arising as a result of the European war. Last year's appropriations were as under-Koads, etc., £300,925, Backblock roads £201,225, roads on goldfields £51,000. opening up Crown lands for settlement account £IOO,100, national endowment account £2.* 750, new Hutt road £4OOO, maintenance of roads, Consolidated Fund, £45,000. Total, £785,000. The provision for the current year is as under-Koads, etc., £500,000, backblock roads £200,000, roads on goldfields £50,000, land for settle-

ments account £170,000, national endowment account £40,000 maintenance of roads, Consolidated tund, £.15,000. Total, £1,005,000. THE ESTIMATES, The following are among the votes included for local works-where two lots of figures are given the first indicates the liability on 31st March last: Huntly-Awaroa railway £10,0.»3, £30,000. Courthouses: Gtorohanga £oo, £100; Taumaranui, £IOO. I Waikeria Reformatory Farm £IOO £IO,OOO. ■ Police Stations: Hamilton £2OOO, Hamilton Inspector's residence £I3OO, Ngaruawahia £llOO, Putaruru £9OO. Post and Telegraph: Frankton Junction Railway Station £550, Hamilton additions £4400, telephone exchange £2500, Mamaku £BSO, Manawaru £IOO. Matangi £176, Raglan £2310, £2OOO, Walton £l5O. Agricultural: Ruakura Farm of Instruction-Accommodation for carets, water supply, drainage, etc., £I6OO, dr2»naga £lom Waerenßa: -Additional buiidirg?* 2so /, Harbour works: Rangir'lH whart £2BO. Whangamarino Falls whan, subsidy £ for £, £IOO, clearing willows on Onetea stream, £1 for £l, £IOO, clearing snags in Waikato river, £l2, £IOO, Raglan protective works near launch wharf, £1 for £l, £SO wharf and breastwork, on account, £3OOO, £1 for £l. £IOOO, Te Akau wharf, £1 for £l. £SOO, Waihou river £250. Health resorts: Te Aroha golf links £3OO, Waitomo hostel £2OOO. ROADS AND BRIDGES.

Waikato County: Great South road Huntly to Rangiriri, on account, £ISOO, £ for .£, £l5O. Huntly to Taupiri on account, £350. £ for £, £SOO, Mercer to Rangiriri £2OO, Kimihia £IOO, Kopuku stream bridge and approaches £7O, £75, Lake road, Waerenga, £SO, Mangapiko Mangatea £IOO, Manga pi ko Valley £SO. Mangatea £SO. £2OO, Matatuna to Te Hoe. £ for £. £SO, Matatuna to Taupiri £IOO, Matatuna to Mangapiko Valley £IOO, Matatuna Valley to Proctor's, £ for .£, £368, £6OO, Ohinewai Railway Station to Ngarun. £ for £. £5lB, £IOOO, Rangiriri to Churchill. £ for £. £SO, £SO, Raynor road £SO, Tahuna to Ohinewai £2OO, TakarurJ road bridge £75, Taniwha Gorge road £IOO, Taniwhata-Waeranga Railway Station £IOO, Te Kauwtiata Station road £ for £. £SO, Waerenga to Waitakuru £6OO, £ for .£. £IOO. £7OO, Rangiriri bridge £SOOO, Waituna Valley road. Eureka Main road to railway station, £ for £, £IOO, £2OO, Gordonton to Molumaoho, £ for £, £l5O, Proctor's bridge, £ for £, £2OO, Mangawhaia bridge, Taupiri, £ for .£, £3OO, Proctor's road, £2OO, Ruakura Farm road, £2 for £l, £2OO, Taupiri to Kewi Settlement, on account, £IOOO, £ for £, £250, Ngaruawahia bridge, on account, £ fur £, £SOO.

Raglan County: Awaroa Landing road, £ for £, £350, Bennett's road, Te Akau, £ for £, £IOO, Bregmen'B Landing to Churchill Hast £IOO, Given'a deviation, £ for £, £151), Glen Murray to Bregmen's Landing, £ for £, £75, Glen Murray to Rungiriri, £ for £, £IOO, Heddon road, £IOO, Huntly to Kahuruhuru £SO, lltiutly to Rangiriri West, £ for £', £IOO, Kaipo Flat, £ for £, £ls. £75, Kilsey to Port Waikato £IOO, Logan's deviation, £22, £75. Mangaokahu, £ for £. £125, Mangaokahu bridges £SOO, Matakotia £3OO, Ngaruawahia to Huntly West, £ for £, £IOO, McGuire's road £s(l, Onewhero to Wairamararaa £IIOOO, Otoroheao Trig road £2OO, Phillips'road £2OO, l J onganui £2OO, Tort Waikato to Tuakau, on account, £2500. £ for £, £SOO, Pukgawa to Bregmen's Landing, £ for £, £2so,Punga Runga creek road £SO, Furiri to Huntly £, for £, £O4, £IOO, Raglan to Waipa. £ for £, £3O. £175, Rutherford'B road, £225, access to Block X., Whaingaroa, £ for £, £75, Te Akwu Block to Dunmore, £ for £, £IOO, metaling Te Akau roads, £SOO, £ for £, £I2OO, £2175, Te Kirikiri £2OO, £ for £, £SOO, £I2OO, Te Kawa £2Bl, £4OO, Te Mata to Kauroa factory, £ for £, £IOO, Three Streams to Kauroa factory, £ for £. £l5O, Te Kotiko, £ for £, £750, Tuakau bridge to Waingaro, £ for £, £llO to £525, Tuakau-Whaingaroa road to Te Akau boundary £IOO, Upton's Hill to Te Akau Block £ll7, £175, Waikaretu road £IOO, Waikorea road £2OO, Waimai Valley road, £250, £ for £ on Account £3500, £ for £, £4O, £3OO, Waingaro Springs to Te Uku, £5, £lO, Waingaro to Ngaruawahia, i! for £. £3OO, WaingaroNgaruawahia road to Pukemiro, £ for £, £SO, Waingaro to Waingaro Landing £2OO, Wainui £l5O, £ for £, £47, £2OO, Waitotunato Kauri £IOO, Wairamararaa Block n ads, £ for £, £434, £175, Waitetuna to Waipa, £ fur £, £75, Whatawhata bridge to Karamu, £ for £. £lOl, £750, Whatawhata to Raglan, £ for £, £94, £3OOO. Woodleigh to Bothwell, £ for £, £SOO, Shea's road £2OO.

Waipa County. Cambridge to Kihikihi. on account, £IOOO, £ for £, £250, Hamilton to Tuhikaramea, £ for £, £SOO, Cambrdge to Taupo £11)0, Kihikihi to Waotu, £450, £ for £, £lO. £750, Pirongia to Te Awamutu, on account, £ISOO, £ for £, £205, £SOO, Puniu Road Hoard £IOO, Te Awamutu to Ohaupo. on account £2OOO, £ for £, £500; Te Awamutu to Te Mawhi bridge, £ for £, £SO, Te Kowhai to Te Rapa, £ for £, £250, Tuhikaramea and Rukuhia Railway Station, £350, £ for £, £550; Walker's Cully, £1 for £2, £250, Whatawhata Swamp read, on account, £350,"£ for £, £650.

Piako County. —Ngahimanga £3OO, £675; No 1. road. Waitoa, £SOO, £ for£, £600; No. 7 road, Waitoa, £1 for £3, £200; No 8. road, Waitoa, £ for £, £400; Te Aroha to Gordon, £ for .£, .£!J7, A'GUO; Thompson's track, £350; )Te Kawana-Ngahi-manga, £ for £, £IOO, £150; Thomas' road, £ for £, £106; Waitoa Block to Waihou railway station, £l7O, £ for £, £233, £250; Alexandra road, £loo;'Baker's road, £SO; Diagonal road. £42, £200; Morrinsville to Tabuna, £100; Motumaoho railway station to Tauhei toad, £300; Roache's road, £150; Sanatorium road, £250; Swamp road, £75: Tahuroa road, £300; Waghorn's road, £IOO, £ for £, £200; Waihou river bridge, £150;

Waiorongomai to Mangakawa, £200; Whakahongi road. .£IOO. Matamata County.-Bridgewater to French Pass, £100; Brunskill's road, £ for ,i', £SO; Buckland's road, on account, £IOOO, £ for £, £100; Cambridge to Hinuera, £100; Cambridge to Kotorua, £100; Cambridge to Te Aroha, £ for £, £300; Green's road, £100; Hinuera Valley bridges. £200; Kaimai road, £ for £, £500; Mangawhero, £150; Mangawhero to Kaimai, £IOO, £ for £, £IOO, £.'?00; Morrinvsille to Tirau, £ for £, £500; Omahine stream bridge £125; Puketurua to Cam-brdge-Tirau road. £300; Saleyards road, £ for £, £100; Sharer's road, £100; Station road, £ for £, £2su; Tirau to Kotorua road, £425; Totmun's road, £200; Waharoa to Walton, £ for £, £'100; Waharoa_ to Turanga-a-moana creamery, £450, £ for £. £500; Waimakariri bridge, £ for £, £200; Wairere Falls road, £100; VNaitoa to Tauranga, £300; Bridge road. £100; Cambridge to ( llorahora, £200; Lichfield to Southern County boundary, £ for £, £150; Lichfield to Waotu, £250; luek-at-Last road, £ for £, £150; Ngatira road, £250; Ngatira to Okohiriki, £400; Pokawhenua Stream bridge. £150; Puketurua to Waotu-Putaruru road,' £100; Putaruru to Waotu, £l5O. BACK BLOCKS ROADS. Waikato County. —Kaihere, £200; acce;« to Section 55, Koheroa, £300; Miranda to Maramarua, £2OO. Raglan County.-Aotea to Raglan, £200; Cogswell's road, £lOG; fletherington'B road, £200; Huntly to Pukemiro deviation, £500; Kauroa to Pakoka, £200; Kirikiri to Te Akau, £OO, £100; Klondkye, £2O, £000; Mangakino, £150; Pakihi to Okete. £350; Blocks IX. and X., Rangiriri S.D., £150; Ruapuke to Aotea, £100; Ruapuke Mountain road, £300; Ruapuke Mountain road to Te Mata, £75; Takapaumu to Ruapuke Mountain road, £250; Te Mata to Ruapuke, £100; Te Akau Landing road, £5, £SO; Turner's Junction to West Coast, £350; Sections 120-7-8, Whangape Parish, £l-00; Kauri to Harapepe, £100; I akoka Bridge, £200; Pehebau to Kaniwhaniwha, £SO; Wharauroa, £225. LANDS IMPROVEMENT. Mamaku water supply, on account, £IOOO, £ for £, £2OO. Te Akau Block, Raglan, Mangati, formation, etc., .£lO-1, £1750. ROADS TO OPEN LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT. Waikato County.—Matahuru Block, £7O; Takaruru Block, £IOO. Raglan County. Waitewheta, £100; Okawhai Block, £100; Roto Ngaro Blcck, £9O, £200; Ta Mata Kobe Block, .£5lO, £1750; Te Akau Block, £SO; Mangaokahu extension (national endowment), £IOO. Piako County. Mangakahika £loo. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The total expenditure on public buildings during the last financial year amounted to £011,041. For the current vear the appropriation of £710.751) is proposed. Gaols.—The principal expenditure last year took place in connection with the buildings at Auckland, W'aikeria and Invercargill, but none of the amounts were very large. Appropriations are. provided this year for new buildings at Auckland and Waikeria.

Police Stations.—New buildings were erected at Huntly, Gtorohanga and Tokaanu. The current year's votes provide for new stations at Hamilton and Putaruru. In addition to the above, votes are renewei (and in some cases increased in amount) for stations at Ngaruawahia and Hamilton. POST AND TELEGRAPH. The expenditure on buildings for post and telegraph purposes has been heavy for some years past, and last year was no exception to the rule. The disbursements under the Public Works Fund amounted to a total for the year of £90,075. The vote now proposed (£115,000) provides for quite a large number of buildings. LaHt year's votes are renewed for Raglan and Hamilton. AGRICULTURE.

During the past year a considerable amount of land drainage was carried out fit Ruakura Farm of Instruction, and as the work has proved of great value both to the farm itself and as a demonstration to the settlers it will be continued during the present year. SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

The expenditure out of the Public Works Fund on school buildings uuring the past year amounted to £121,954. Of this amount nearly £IOB,000 was paid in grunts to the respective governing bodies to provide for new buildings, additions, equipment, and sites for public schools and residences, training colleges, technical and secondary schools, and university colleges. The balance was expended on works carried out directly under the control of the Government. WORKERS' DWELLINGS. The expenditure under this head during the past year amounted to £41,741, as compared with £46,455 expended during the preceding year. The demand for dwellings is increasing, and in order to meet the requirements an authorisation of £IOO,OOO, and a vote on account (if same of £92,000, is proposed for the acquisition of land, road fnrmatkn, and erection of dwellings. DEVELOPMENT OF WATER POWER. Last year's expenditure on the development of water power was somewhat heavy, having amounted to £142,827. for the current year a vote of £52,000 is proposed. Numerous licenses have been issued to local authorities and companies to enable them to distribute electricity for light and power, also a number of water-power licenses, and numerous inspections have been made of existing plants. IRRIGATION. Ihe expenditure out of last year's vole during the financial year was £33,602, and for the cm rent year a vole of £40,000 is proposed. WAIHOO AND OHINEMURI RIVERS IMPROVEMENT. Steady progress is being made with protective works designed in accordance with the recommendations of the Commission. The Ngararahi Cut. to divert a portion of the flow of the Waihou to a more direct course, has been completed under

contract, and although it has not been excavated down to the level of the river-bed, is already carrying an appreciable portion of the flow of the river, which is likely to increase as the new channel scours out to a greater depth. The smaller Koutou Cut in the same river has also been completed, and flood-gates constructed to drain adjacent land. The long stop bank along the Paeroa river front has been completed, and it is now proposed to undertake a 25chain cut at Pereniki's Bend, also the extension of the Paeroa bank, the construction of which is expected to ensure the safety of the township and the lauds along the river bunks in this locality. Much work in the shape of stop-bank construction still temania to be done, and will be carried out by the powerful dredge now being built for the purpose and approac.iing completion. The occupiers of the lands along the rivers are already'experiencing the benefit of these improvement works, and are able to cultivate areas which for years past have been liable to frequent inundation. Although the Commission recommended the taking by the Government of the areas of land required for stop-banks, the Department iB in most instances securing easements from the owners over the areas required, thna reducing the initial cost and not interfering to any great extent with the owners' enjoyment and profitable cultivation of their farms. Many miles of surveys have been made in connection with these works.

Last year's expenditure in connection with these river improvement works amounted to £9632. and for the current year a vote cf £20,000 is proposad. TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS.

The expenditure under this heading ror the year amounted to £14,989.

The work provided for in the Estimates will involve an expenditure of nearly £30,000, on account of which a vote of £20,000 is proposed for *.he current year. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. The expenditure on telegraph and telephone extension during the year amounted to £392,048. Telephone exchange development has been abnormal. Twenty-five new telephone exchanges were opened during the year, and the number of exchange connections has increased by 6481. Five hundred and thirty-six miles of pole-line and 2750 miles of wire were added to the telegraph and interurban telephone systems, and 537 miles of pole-line and 32.149 miles of wire to the telephone exchange systems. Buildings are being erected or adapted to accommodate the new automatic telephone system. The proposed vote for the current year amounts to £410,000. HARBOUR DEFENCES. Very little was done under this heading last year, the expenditure having amounted to £539 only. For the current year a vote ot £IOOO is proposed.

GROSS TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS In addition to the votes already specially mentioned, the estimates make provision for the undermentioned services:— Departmental £93,500, Immigration £36,000, Contingent Defence £50,000, Lands Improvement £19,900, thus bringing the total amount of the proposed appropriations, including special accounts, up to £3,734,758, as against £3,478,731 voted and £2,719,053 actually expended last year. It will, perhaps, be observed that the amount under the heading "Departmental" is a good deal in excess of last year's appropriation for the same purpose, the reason being that under the Public Service classification scheme a number of officers' salaries are now provided under the heading of ••Departmental" which were previously provided for out of the votes for individual works. The programme outlined in theStatement, and provided for In the Estimates, is a fairly extensive one and gives promise of a busy year. All the expenditure proposed is, however absolutely necessary, and more could be spent to advantage; but sufficient work is to be undertaken to fully occupy all the labour that is likely to be available, and to propose to undertake more than this would only lead us into difficulty. Every effort has been made to allocate the funds available fairly amongst the different districts.