PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME

Evening Star, Issue 18101, 17 October 1922, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME

The Public Works Statement is one of the recognised landmarks indicating the approaching end of the session. There is understood to he a possibility of its presentation in the House this evening. It is doubtful if its contents now cause among members the flutter characteristic of the old days. Many a member, knowing that this was the tost by which a majority of his constituents estimated his political worth, was inclined to judge of bis success or failure by the amount of the loaves and fishes he secured in the shape of public expenditure in his electorate. A vote fora new railway, especially on the eve of an election, was regarded as the equivalent of sheaves of votes at the polling booth. Nowadays conditions are somewhat different. Under a strong Minister it has come to be recognised that a continuous policy of development is being pursued, and that there is less chance than formerly of it being interfered with by political considerations. Since the unwelcome phenomenon of existing lines having a hard struggle to pay working expenses, new railways have been at a discount. In fhe face of discontinuance of work on some lines authorised long ago, so that what public money is available may be concentrated on the completion of gaps between railheads on the more important routes, it has been regarded, and properly so, as mere beating of the air to put forward claims for new branch lines. This fact, together with the present-day tendency to place good roads even before railway lines ae a means of communication, must have considerably relieved the Minister of Public Works of what was reputed to be a continual source of worry and irritation to his predecessors. Yet, in spite of the diminution of expenditure in this direction, the country is understood to he faced with the prospect of having to borrow afresh for developmental work to the extent of four millions sterling. Hydro-electric enterprise presumably accounts for a considerable portion of that amount, for expenditure on this at the rate of a million sterling a year is the Government’s programme. There is also highway construction as a possible absorbent, of public money. Last year's Public Works Statement made very brief reference to this matter, stating that it “should occupy a prominent place in future legislation ” ; but another session has almost gone, and still the Bill is held in reserve. This will be a disappointment to many. It may well be doubted whether conflict of opinion on how the task should be allocated as between the general and local administrations is chiefly responsible for delay in making a start at systematic road-building. It may be that the financial position r-imply wil! not admit of it. In that case there is nothing for it but the exercise of patience.