PUBLIC WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 45, 21 August 1926, Page 10

PUBLIC WORKS

MINISTER'S PROGRAMME

CONNECTING UP POLICY

CLOSING. OF NON-PAYING RAILWAY LINES.

The Public Works Statement was presented to Parliament yesterday by the Hon. K. S. Williams (Minister of Public Works)J ' After paying a tribute to the valuable work performed by his predecessor in' office (the Eight Hon. J. G. Coates),.the Minister says that Public Works Fund expenditure should result only after -a careful weighing, of all the evidence. •In dealing with proposals for expenditure-on new works, whether they : be. in relation to what may be termed district works or interdistriet works, it is his intention, as far as possible, to consider each with a view to connecting up with a large scheme of works, and so prevent isolation; in other words, public works must be constructed where possible in accordance with a ' comprehensive scheme embracing the whole area. Careful consideration must be'given to expenditure proposals-which involve,competition between road and railway, constructed, or proposed. "It is not' fair criticism at this stage," says-the Minister, "to condemn what may now appear to be errors of the past. The extraordinary development of motor traffic.has changed the whole position, to the extent that .■.■-.'.

it is necessary to. investigate the question as .to whether, certain lines of railway should not be.closed down altogether; for the reason that they cannot, under-improved road conditions and resulting . competition by motor traffic, pay.their way.

These railways in their day developed the financial resources of the district they served. That development has placed the district-in a position to improve its roads to ■ & degree enabling motor vehicles to convey farm requirements from town stores to farm, and farm products to town stores or mainline stations or ports. . We hays obviously arrived at a stage of development where the transport requirements of a district must be studied with the utmost care, and a constructive policy adopted which will, provide the most economic means of transport without duplicating expenditure. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING. "My immediate effort must be directed to acquiring a personal knowledge of the developmental work now in course of construction, its objective, and the planning of. its enlargement in the future. The errors of the past which now confront us, and which have largely arisen, out of altered conditions, are in themselves sufficient evidence of the necessity of comprehensive planning of public works. ... "The allocation of public works ijuds for development works must necessarily be a vital issue. Applications throughout.the country for grants from the Public Works Fund amount every year to a sum far beyond the resources available. My predecessor evolved a system of automatic allocation based on essential factors, and, in furtherance a system of authorisation automatically relative to appropriation. Believing these systems to be sound in basis, t intend to adhere to them, though experience of .their working effect may suggest modification of detail application. My endeavour will be directed to perfection of a system of allocation of grants from, the Public Works Fund which is based on the absolute economics of the application free of any other consideration.

"My predecessor directed his policy in determined manner towards freeing the allocation of Public Works Fund moneys from any suggestion of satisfying political demands. lam no less determined to follow the same policy. The work which has been achieved during the past few years is self-assertive evidence of the wisdom and benefit of such a policy. I have no wish to discourage local and district ambitions, but I do insist that these: ambitions, before they can .receive any 3upport from the Public Works Fund, must stand the test—that is to say, they must be found to be good and justifiable as part of a comprehensive plan or directly subsidiary to.it."

During the last financial year 53 miles 20 chains of railway were handed over to the Railway Department, and, in addition, rails were laid on ' 22 miles 39 chains. Goods traffic has been carried on over, a length of 52 miles, while traffic of air descriptions was run by the Public.Works Department over 111 miles 61 chains. FURTHER BORROWING AUTHORITY. The Statement aayi.that.it is proposed to ask for further legislative authority to borrow, when required, £5,000,000 which will make available for public: works and general purposes £9,587,471. In addition, surplus revenue, as available, will bo transferred from the Consolidated Fund up to £1,000,000. At the end of last financial year the unexpended balance of the Public' Works Fund for general purposes, plus existing and proposed authorities for raising further moneys, amounted to £9,587,471; tho balance at the same date in respect to some of the more important public works, under special accounts, plus existing and proposed legislative authority to raise additional loans, amounted to £11,890,----888; or a total of £21,478,359.

The expenditure on .road construction again constituted a record for this branch of the Department's operations, and the £1,000,000 mark has nearly been reached. It is pleasing to note that local bodies are moving in the direction of protecting capital expenditure on roads by means of adequate maintenance.

MODERN ROAD-MAKING.

A pleasing feature in tho actual maintenance operations of main highways has been the introduction by local bodies of modern rbad-making plant methods which are strongly advocated by the board itself. It is only by the employment of up-to-date methods that the needs of modern road transport can bo economically satisfied, and the adoption of such methods by all local bodies is strongly advocated.

Eegardiug hydro-electric , works, the Statement says that tho capital expenditure at 31st March, 191G, the first complete year of supply, was £362;000; at Murch, 1921, it had grown to £1,072,000; and by March, 1920, to £5,134,000. In 1916 there was a total annual revenue of £8518, in 1921 of £66,178, and in 1926 of £287,942 per annum. . .