NEW FORMS OF TRANSPORT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22464, 27 July 1938, Page 10

NEW FORMS OF TRANSPORT

ROAD SERVICES AND RAILCARS LARGE EXPENDITURE ON MOTOR-VEHICLES PROVISION FROM PUBLIC WORKS FUND [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 26. The introduction of new forms of railway transport by the Government, and the purchase of vehicles for the new road motor services, are responsible for large items of expenditure from the Public Works Fund, according to the Public Works estimates for the new financial year. ' One of the largest appropriations for improvements and additions to the Railway Department’s plant is for the purchase of “motor-vehicles, etc.,’’ for which £239,003 has been set aside. Garage and terminal facilities in Dunedin are expected to cost £35,000, and similar facilities in Wellington are allotted a vote of £12,000. The total expenditure under these heads in the last financial year was less than £40,000. Last year £38,497 was spent on railcars, and a further sum of £39,000 is estimated to be necessary this year. Multiple-unit coaches for the Welling-ton-Johnsonville electrified section are voted £77,000, more than three times the amount spent last year. Sheds for rail-cars are estimated to cost £IO,OOO —£sooo was spent on them’ last year. Rather less may be spent on electric locomotives, the vote being £97,000, compared with £126,604 last year. For overbridges £50,000 is provided, compared with £95,000.