THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 291, 15 December 1897, Page 4

THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

The Public Works Statement has lost the importance which was at one time attached to it. Some speculation has existed this year with regard to funds for carrying on necessary works, and it was suspected that a new loan, might be mooted. However, t the Statement laid before Parliament last night was a very mild affair, containing nothing at all sensational. After gathering together into one account the balances from all the accounts which are administered by the Public Works Department, the Minister finds that on the 31st of March last there was an unexpended, balance of £ 639,159. He proposes to supplement that fund for the services of the current year as follows:'—Transfer from revenue, £300,000; to be specially raised for. additions, .to open lines, £200,000; school building's, £25,000;

technical schools, £25,00(X Total,

£ 550,000. In addition to this sum it is expected that sundry credits will come to hand to the amount of probably £5,000, thus bringing1 the gross total ways and means up to £1,194,159.

A full account of the work done in 1596-7 and that proposed for the current year appears in the Statement which we publish to-day. The estimates provide for an expenditure of £1,021,570. The purposes to which the money is, to be applied consist chiefly of additions to existing railways, the construction of roads, public buildings, and other miscellaneous

works.