MINISTER'S STATEMENT

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 252, 24 October 1919, Page 3

MINISTER'S STATEMENT

lISVIETy OF THE YEAR'S Vi rOIIK

SiIOETA.rE OF LABOR KAM-

PEitS OPERATIONS

The Public- Works Statement was presented to the House by the Mini;;., ter (Sh William Eraser) last niyjht. '3. he- opening sentences drew attention to the shortage- or labor, and the Ivb'nisfcer proceeded:— "The truth is that the manhood of the B'ominiou, including also the returned soldiers, iias very slightly increased in numbers^ since the war Vegan, as .the lads who have pn.SEe.cl into "manhood do not much ovitrtumter those who have been killed or 1-i.r-imed.' It is owing to this fact that only £5*22,092 has been expended on railways, roads, and bridges out of £976,055 provided on the estimates.

"I am in hope, however, that the results of the operations during the current financial year will show, a n arked improvement. A censiderjille amount, of machinery has been cock red, and some has actually come to hand.''

The expenditure during the financial year ended 31st March last amounted to £1,350,408, making a, total sin;e the inauguration of the Piibiic Works policy of £72.886,748.

The amount available for expenditure during the current financial year (ircludmg 'the sura of £750,000 for which it is proposed to ask authoricy is £3,07,6,199. The etimated exrenditure for the current, year (exclusive of accounts which have their own ways and means) is £2,986,257, leaving on e-th^qted credit balance'of £P9,942 to be carried forward to next y<ar.

HYDRO-EL SCrRIC SUPPLY

The Minister states that the results from the Lake Coleridge undertaking continue to be increasingly remunerath c. The net revenue for the year ended .Ist' March last exceeded the cost of working by £20,186. The mi-x-rest on capital amounted vo £L 5- , leaving a balance towards■ De].reciation... Acc.aimfc of £4494. The ivfiilfc of the six months ended 30th September, 1919, is that the revenue exceeded ihe estimate by £2864, and the expenditure fell short,of the esti- -- ate by £645, showing 'a net gain l-esond thd estimate of" £3,509. If the returns fd'r the second six months ;.re on t.he s-nme sc^le, then on the ''Alt March, 1920, there will have bft-n recsived a,s net revenue more than sufficient- to defray both interest and depreciation charges—viz.. 6 per cent, on tot-.il capital cost. As rdon as it is possible to erect the p.lmit necopsary to generate th? full power n^ aila.ble at Like Coleridge the iW. TC-cein-ts from this undertaking will largely increase.

k After o, very exhaustive hireFiigniion of the 'alternnti/e methods of general distribution a complete scheme has beea -Irawi up for the North Island, consisting of a network of bigh-tensiqn transmission lines covering -practically the whbls Island, \xith 60.000, 33,000, and 11,000 volt icticulations to all the main centres, f.nd supplying the country districts en route.

This system will ultimately be .supplied with power from the three main rowtr-liouses at Mangahao (24.000 boise-power\ Araronni (96,000 hor'per)ovrer), and Waikaremoan.i, (40,000 horse-power), with connections to the ey i sting power-stationr—Hora h or a Rapids (8400 horse-power) and Wairua Falls (3300 horse-power).

A. sum is to he provided for the completion of plans for elaborating schemes for the South Island, and it is intended when labor and funds are available that such schemes shall be set in operation. "It would not ■be just that, all parts-of the Dominion, other than those proposed to-be served by the Manfrahao, Arnpuni, Lake Coleridge, and Horuhora plants, shculd haJ'e to'awai'> the completion of thoce schemes before havinjr their respective districts provided for. In vic-w, ho.vever, of the difficulty in procuring labor, it would be manifestly improper to pretend tha* such large new schemes a^. "Wnikaremoana and whatever may be deckled on for the South Island could be undertaken at, present.'' A preliminary investigation has been maie indicating the v am lines on which the scheme will be laid out

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

Construction and maintenance were continued during the year on 29 sec-t-icns of railway -with all the manpower that could, be obtained at reasoriable. rates?. Tho total expenditure oin jciousifcuctjion a,nd improveineritflj amounted to £467,297, none of which was spent on the South Island Main Tuink Line. "

EDUCATION BUILDINGS

The fin-vace' for Educa'cion buildings for the remainder of the present year j:nd .the four following years haw been established by the Education Purposes Loans Act recently passed -by both Houses. It is estimated that the mqnsy:; already expended and the liabilities already incurred under thisclass amount to £450,000, for which provision has to be made in addition to the moneys authorised under the special Act. Of the £40,000 thus to te provided separately from, the Public Works Fund it is estimated that >!ot more than £250.000 will actually come to account during the present fir«nnc-i.i!_ year, and a Vote for that amount is proposed for appropriation accordingly. Any part of that £220,000 unexpended during the .present financial year, together with the balance of £200,000, will be pro- i vuled on the public-works estimates ! of the financial year commencing ,on the Ist April, in addition to r.ny r.oneys raised under the special Act. The effect will be that, in addition to the £500,000 for the present year and £750,000 for each of the four successive years (provision for which is made by the Educitioa-Purposes Loans _ Act), a further sum of £450,COO will be provided out of ordinary Loan. Account to discharge past liabilities already incurred, and that, of the latter sum of £450.000, £250,----(00 is proposed to be voted in the I-resent year, and £200,000, together uith any unexpended balance of the *v 200,000, to be voted in the next financial year. The monev-s arthoriaed by the spoci.il Act avill be thits i rendered available for future commitments only, without any charge thereon for past expenditure aiid commitments. WORKERS' DWELLINGS. There was an expenditure of £7293 jn connection with dwellings in the course of erection and other works. During the current year it is anticipated that £150,000' will be required. ROADS. The ."jr.srant placed at the Minister'?-; disposal was £535,630. . The expenditure did not- reach anticipations, owing to the difficulty of

obtaining both labor and material. Steel for bridges was unprocurable, and owing to the shortage of shipping space hardwood could not be imported. ..'.,,■! For roads and other works on goldfields! the total vote was £10,375, of which only £4186 was expended., on urgent works.

TELEGRAPH EXTENSION,

Owing.to the difficulties in obtaining regular supplies of material, the completion of certain lines was delayed and in otjier instances works authorised could not be commenced.

In Central Otago, North Canterbury, and Marlborough snowstorms caused such damage that many miles of lines had to be rebuilt. ■

Reliable telegraph and telephone pervices have been maintained throughout the- year. The telephone exchange system is steadily expanding. Eight new exchanges were opened during the year, and one was closed. It was found necessary to provide additional switchboard accommodation at. twenty-six others. The work "of converting earth-work-ing systems to metallic circuit is being systematically continued. The increase in the number of exchange connections for the year is 4100. The telegraph and inter-urban telephone system has been extended by the erection of 126 miles of poles and 451 miles of wire; 386 miles of poles and 1164 miles of wire were added to the telephone-exchange plant; 3749 miles of telegraph and inter-urban telephone lines were overhauled and reconstructed.

Fourteen new coin-in-tho-slot telephones were installed. This makes a total for the Dominion of- 275 machines.

The policy of providing for tele-phone-exchange subscribers' circuits by means of "underground cable is being continued, and during the year cables were laid providing for 6511 miles of wire.

•' The party-line system was extended by the addition of 621 lines and 2154 subscribers.

Provision has been made for communicating at any hour day or night with all coastal and isolated tele-phone-stations.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS •ACCOUNT.

Opening up Roads fpr Settlement. :In order to provide additional funds for the roading and development of Crown lands for the settlement of returned soldiers, the borrowing authority provided for under section 62 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1913, was increased last year from £100,000' to £250,000 by section 42 of the Appropriation Act. When labor conditions improve the whole of this authority will be available. ,

CONCLUSION. '

• "Let .me say in conclusion," the Minister remarked, "that, realising the very natural anxiety on the part of each section of settlers now that the war is over to have its respective roads of access and main roads completed and metalled, I have placed on my estimates a sum exceeding £1,000,000 for roads and bridges alone. To have. attempted to; comply with all requests would have necessitated providing over £2,000,000, which would have been absurd for one year's .operations. "I. liave-bee'ik- careful to inquire as to the roads leading to and through returned soldiers' _ settlements, and have endeavored in every case to make provision for same."

[Others matters of interest in connection with the Statement were contained in a telegram published in yesterday's second -edition.]