PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 485, 26 July 1890, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

A CONDENSED DESPATCH. Wellington, last night. Tho Hou. Tbos. Fergus, Minister for Public Works, delivered the Public Works Statement in the House this evening:— The interest, said he, attached to the Public Works Statement is generally in proportion to the amount of funds for new works at the disposal of Government. as the funds decrease, however, greater care has to be exercised in disposing of tbzm, and the question assumes more than ordinary importance at the present juncture, when we are endeavoring to meet the ordinary demands cf settlement without the aid of borrowed money. The amount standing to the credit of {public works on 21st March last was £959,492, but there is a further sum of £87,974 due to part 1 for advances under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act. Debentures of local bodies are negotiable at any time. Against this there are outstanding liabilities £314,933. The Public Works fund has been divided into throe parts. Part 1 comprises miscellaneous items of expenditure chargeable to loan; part 2 deals with the North Island Trunk Railway, and part 3 with railway works generally. The amount to the credit of each of these is as follows :—

The expenditure during the past year has been, on part 1, £167,513 ; part 2, £48,832 ; and part 3, exclusive of credit on account of previous years, £194,385, making a total of £410,730. The amount voted for actual expenditure was £636,721, consequently we are within our vote to the extent of £224,991. The additional authorisation for further liabilities amounted to £230,816, so Government has altogether £916,537 at its disposal for expenditure and commitments. The expenditure and liabilities amounted to £725,663, so there also we are within our authorities to the extent of £190,874. The annual expenditure for the last seven years has decreased steadily from £1,409,000 in 1883 84 to £410,700 in 1889-90. Our power of production is increasing, and the unemployed, who in 1886 numbered 1300, have ceased to exist. The enterprise and energy which in former years were devoted to the prosecution of the public works have found fresh outlets in other directions, including the purchase of provincial and district railways. The tstal expenditure to 31st March otr works and services through tho colony, chargeable to loan, was £27,774,930, tho principal items being railways, £15,028,353; roads .£3,552,999; water races, £510,280; telegraphs, £590,356; buildings, £1,757,965; lighthouses and harbor works and harbor defences, £879,152; immigration, £2,143,327; purchase of native lands, £1,178,554; cost of raising loans, £1,021,472; defence, £129,719; and departmental, £341,905. It is proposed to continue the policy of proceeding very cautiously with all classes of public works, and the expenditure of the last year or two proves that the slowing down process is not retarding ths progress of the country. We propose to spend all available funds in completing lines to a convenient terminus. The amount proposed for actual expenditure in public works for 1889 90 is £523,992. The total expenditure on railways for tbe year has been £15,028,353. The earnings have been £1,095,569 and expenses £682.787. Out of a total of 1813 miles 1193 miies show a return of over 3J per cent, on a cost of £8,888,733, and of these again 124 mles pay over 4 per cent, on £1,082.798. Among the boat paying are the NapierWoodville section and the Hurinui Bluff. As compared with previous year passengers increased from 3,132,803 to 3,376,450 and goods from 1,820,431 tons to 2,073,955. From November to February 6,350 tourists were landed in the colony from Australia.

Bals. Mar. 31. Parti. X233.675 „ 2. 386,985 „ 3. 426,80G Liabil. XI 14,309 9,694 190,930 Net Bal. X119,366 377,291 235,876 1,047,466 314,933 732,533