PUBLIC WORKS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 137, 6 December 1918, Page 10

PUBLIC WORKS

THE ANNUAL STATEMENT ENTERPRISE CHECKED BY WAR SHORTAGE OF LABOUR. "The difficulty I anticipated of beinpr able to procuro a sufficient supply of labour whilst tho war lasted was, I regret to say, only too- manifest during last year," states the Minister of Public Works (Sir William Fraser) in the prefaco to his annual statement. "Indeed, as time went on it became increasingly accentuated. The fact that on the 31st March, 1918, the unexpended authorities in the hands of local bodies and of the officers of my Department amounted to £209,962 for roads and bridges alone clearly proves that it was the scarcity of labour and material, and not of money, which accounted for only £135,642 having been expended during the financial year on such work."

On the Ist April, 1917, the available ways and means for public works purposes were £521,525. Further funds were received as under:—Under the Aid to Public- Works and Land Settlement Act, 1914. £45,100; under Finance Act, 1916, £700,000; under Finance Act, 1917, 6125,000; other receipts and recoveries, £44,648; making a gross total of £1,436,----273. The ordinary expenditure of the year amounted to £1,140,732, plus tho expenses of raising loans £1, thus bringing the total disbursements up to £1,140,----733. This left a balance to the credit of the Ways and Means Account at 31st March, 1918, of £295,540. For the current year it is proposed' to provide additional funds as under:—ln terms of section 77, Finance Act, 1917, £725,000; under Finance Act, 1918. £2,500,000. Making the total ways and means for 1918-19, £3,520,540. The estimated expenditure for public works for the current year (excluding separate accounts having their own ways and means) amounts to £2,460,050, leaving an estimated balance of £1,060,490 to be _ carried forward to next year In addition to the amounts described above there is authority to raise the following sums:—-Under the Aid to Waterpower Works Act, 1910, £76,000; under the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Act, 1910, £50,000. RAILWAYS. Four short sections were opened for traffic during the year, and construction work has been carried on with all the labour available at eleven different places. Supplies of rail, steel, and haidwood timber for bridges have been practically unobtainable owing to the conditions due to the war, and the absence with the Expeditionary Forces of more than half of the Department's engineers has had the effect of delaying some of the location and survey work, which must be done in advance of construction. _ In addition to the votes for construction of specific lines of railway, an appropriation of £500 is required to provide_ for old land claims and other liabilities on Construction Account, £1000 for surveys of projected new lines of railway, and £80,000 for permanent-way material. The total vote proposed tliis year for railway-construction amounts to £485,000. The expenditure out of the Public Works Fund under the heading "Additions to Open Lines," amounted to £200,----162. Of this sum £149,031 was expended in the provision of additional rollingstock, Westinghouse-brake equipment, steam-heating gear, and workshops machinery. The balance covered expenditure upon improvements to station accommodation and yards; additions to workshops^ tablet, telegraph, and telephono facilities, interlocking, improvements to wharves and bridges, and purchase of land. WORKERS' DWELLINGS. There was an expenditure of £15,505 during the year under this heading, also a liability of £95 for dwellings in course of erection. Expenditure during the current year will be on a similar moderate scale. SCHOOL BUILDINGS. The expenditure out of the Public Works Fund on school buildings was £63,082 out of a vote of £100,8)0. Of this amount £55,000 was paid to Education Boards and other controlling authorities for the erection of new buildings, additions, etc., for the purposes of primary, secondary, technical, and university education. The balance, £8000, represents the cost of works carried out directly under the control of the Government, including Native schools and industrial and special schools. For the current year a much larger sum will be needed. During the past four years, the cost of buildings being abnormally high, operations have been confined to cases where extra accommodation was absolutely necessary to carry on, and as a consequence a large sum is required to provide for buildings the erection of which can no longer be postponed. Increased votes are being provided for buildings for public schools, technical schools, secondary schools, and university buildings. Applications for sums amounting to over £400,000, including grants made during the current year, are now before the Education De-, par.tment. and provision for this sum has been made.

THE MAIN ESTIMATES. Following are the main Estimates, the first figure being tho estimated amount required to bo voted, 1918-19, and the second the amount expended, 1917-18: — Public Works, Departmental, £120,----000; £127,898. Hailways—£67o,ooo (Railway construction £485,000, additions to open lines £185,000); £495,771. Public buildings, £648,500; £229,288. ■ Lighthouses, harbour works, and harbour defences, £15,600 ; £2976. Tourist and health resorts, £7500; £9il. Immigration, £20,000; £3856. Construction, maintenance, and supervision of roads, bridges, andl other Public Works, £480,000; £135,642. Development of mining, £1450.; £27. Telegraph extension, £280,000; £117,----266. Contingent defence, £15,000; £6714. Lands improvement, £7000; £1838. Irrigation and water-supply, £20,000; £11,650. Plant, material, and stores, £25,000; £6811. Electric supply, £150,000. Services not provided for, £64. Total, £2,460,050; £1,140,732.