PUBLIC WORKS

Northern Advocate, 28 January 1922, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS

MINISTER'S STATEMENT.

CURTAILED ACTIVITIES

POINTS OF NEW POLICY

The Public Works Statement was tieI:\ered to the House,of i-el3reseF.taci.v33 lust night by the Minister o; Public Works, the Hon. J. G. Coates. The "Northern . Advocate" is indebted to tno Government for a complete copy of the Statement and Estimates.

The Minister drew attention to the difference between .the conditions pre "vailing when he delivered his previous •Statement and those under which he now spoke. On the previous occasion Jhe had had to say that the work of the Department had been delayed and rendered unusually expensive through sscircity of material and the difficulty of procuring labour. Now the supply of material and labour was considerably greater than funds would permit "the Minister to utilise. Still the improvements in working conditions and Ihe reorgansation that had proceeded should bear good fruit. Wherever possible the work was being carried out on the basis of payment by result, ■with appreciable benefit both to the workmen and to the Department. The Minister continued as follows: — Last year I announced that certain •departmental reorganisation was considered advisable to decentralise the administration as much as possible .oad place more direct responsibility on "the district engineers, with the object, of expediting work. This policy has boon put into operation, with markod improvement in administration. A large quantity of labour-adding machinery has now been installed with vc-rv beneficial results, but already a very large improvement in output is apparent, and, as those directly engaged with the plant become more accustomed J io the altered conditions which it br'ngs •about, still better results may be confidently anticipated. Much attention is being given in other countries to the subject of road improvements in relation to motor traffic. With the development of this mear.s of ■transport the value of good roads cannot be overestimated, and future toil-

way construction must bo considered in the light of iDOSsibilities in thi<; ro-

spcct. The expericncc of some countries goes to show that satisfactory communication can sometimes be provided by motors on good roads in less time and at considerably lower cost than by railways; and this new factor in the development of the country must be kept in view.

During the war period the purchase of bridge material, rails, and sleepers was restricted as much as possible, and our stocks became depleted. Heavy expenditure has therefore been necessary for large quantities of material during the year; in fact the total public works expenditure for the twelve months has been greater than at any period in the history of Now Zealand. On railways it exceeded the record of the past forty years, while on hydro-electric development it was two-and-a-half times greater than in any previous year. The present financial circumstances demand that expenditure must be reduced; work can be undertaken only according to ih<? money available.

Last year I announced a policy of concentration in regard to . railwayworks. A perusal of this Statement will reveal that this principle has been though not. as far as I had hoped. It will be adhered to in future; and I again emphasise the necessity and wisdom of such a course. It was not possible or reasonable during the year to discontinue work on many lines; the Raihu Valley line, the Waiuku Branch line, the Tahora section of the Stratford-Main Tru'nk line, and the | Otago Central line, for instance, were eo nearly finished that eommon-?ense demanded, their completion. The Wainu branch was discontinued for a time, though certain work was afterwards done there. No work has been or will be commenced on the Waikokowai or Waipa gravel-pit access lines. The Waihi Eastwards will be suspended when Athcnree is reached, but possibly financial considerations will necessitate an earlier cessation. Work from Tauranga I westwards had been suspended, except in the vicinity of the wharves and station. "Work on the Wairoa-Gisborne section has been stopped, and a halt will be called at an early date on the Txgatapa section of the Gisborne-Wairoa line, except in regard to maintenance and preliminary work on the tunnels. No further work has been opened up on the Napier end of the East Coast railway, but efforts have been directed to finishing the first length so that work or. this line also can be stopped. Work

cv the Wai mate branch railway was discontinued. Otago Central railway was completed to Cromwell and discontinued. Thus, in accordance with the policy of concentration, work on five lines has been suspended, while on four construction was so far advanced as to enable them to be completed this year. With due regard to the money likely to be available for 1921-22, it was necessary ro suspend operations on eight additional lines, though in order to make provision for possible unemployment sums will be allocated for certain works distributed over the Dominion. The works upon which effort will be concentrated will be the Midland line, North Auckland connection, and the East Coast Main Trunk; but financial provision will also be necessary for the completion of the Waikokopu Branch (the excavation work being now nearly finished) and the Stratford-Main Trunk as far as Matiere. EXPENDITURE The expenditure for the financial year .ended March 31, 1921, under all votes and accounts appearing on the public-works appropriations w T as £3,806. 027. If, however, the expenditure under the special accounts (which have their own ways and means) is deducted, the net charge against the Public Works Fund is £3,140,758. WAYS AND MEANS On April 1, 1920, the available ways and means for public-works purposes were £210,502. Additional funds were received as follows: —Under Finance Act, .1918 ' (So. 2), section 29 (aid to public works') £200,000, under Finance Act, I'll!), section 5 £750,00n. under Finance Act. 1020, section 15 (public works) £1,040,000, transfer from Consolidated Fund (section 33, Appropriation Act. 1020') £500,000. Other receipts— ( O Recoveries on account of expenditure of previous years £19,027. (b) Special receipts in connection with the E !esmere and Forsyth Reclamation and Akaroa Railway Trust Account £1.577; total £3,411,184; thus making available for expenditure a gross total of £3,030, 686.

The actual not expenditure on all works and services chargeable on the Fublic Works Fund for the year was— (a) Under appropriations £3,140,57'!. (b) Under.section fi, subsection (1), of the Ellesmere Land Drainage Act, 10 ! )5 £139, (c) For charges and expenses of raising loans £IS4; making a total of £3,141,197 .

This left fi credit balance in the ways and Moans Account at March 31, 1021, of £489,485). Legislative authority exists for providing further funds as follows: —In terms of—(a) FLnnnce Act, 1020 (balance) £560,000, (b) Finance Act, 1921 £2,500,000. It is proposed to mt/lvo further provision this session ror an additional £5,000,000, making available for the current year a total of £5,549,489. The estimated expenditure on public works for the current year (exclusive of accounts which have their own way? and means) is £5,490,080, which will leave a credit balance of £3,059,409 to be carried forward mext year (1922-23 V RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION Three sections of completely constructed lines were handed over to the New Zealand Railways Department for ordinary traffic during the year, viz:— Kuarau to Maungaturoto, 2 miles 5 chains; Maungaturoto to Ranganui, 4 miles 25 chains; Kioreroa to Portland, 5 miles 23 chains; total 11 miles 53 chains. Several other sections wero sufficiently advanced to admit of goo-.b and passengers being carried, a convenience that has been greatly appreciated not only by settlers but by t-h? travelling public. The total net expenditure on construction, improvement, and maintenance for the year amounted to £1,428, 544. TOIHU RAILWAY EXTENSION. Formation, culvert ing, and fencing on this section have been practically completed. A certain 'amount of trimming, however, remains to be done when a ballast train is available, and a few culverts also require to be built. Plate-laying lms been completed to DonnellyCrossing 'Station yard, but the plate-laying in the yard itself will not be possible until the bridge at I'.'! miles -IS chains has been completed. About 5000 cubic yards of ballast is ■still icquired to complete this work. A good service has been in operation since September last between Tarawhuti and Araiiga. and recently it was extended to Donnelly's Crossing. Full advantage has been takeiii by the settlers of both services. With the exception of the station buildings, this line should be iu oi'der for handing over to the New "eala.nd Kailways"Department before nex! winter. tfOi.Tll AUCKLAND MAIN TRUNK. 1 NO AI'UH 1 'NOKTHW A RD,N. Ok-tihnu >>e< : mi.—The last mile of format ion on t' . - section has been combut slips have causcd much concern. Over 22,000 cubic yards have bet n .'removed, but .further slips ;uid snl).~idi'aces have since- occurred, which will be attended to during the drier

weather. PlatelayLng has bee>n completed to 24 miles 14 chains, 10 inilcs of fencing have been erected, and, a considerable number of culverts have been built. Utakura quarry has been opened up, a light line laid to it, and a crushing plant erected and is in readiness for operation. It is hoped to put the first lift, of-ballast on the (Section between Ivaikohe and Okaihau as early as possible, in order to adunit o.f the carriage of passengers and goods. This connection will save at least 25 miles of the present circuitous coach route to Hokianga and Ma.ngcnui counties. Its completion depends upon the Government's ability to fin a. nee it.

Okoro Section. —Very little work has been done on this during the year, and operations have now teased altogether. A short piece of formation was completed, some culverts were built, mid a few chains of fencing erected. It is not proposed to do anything further on this line for same time, -and, in view of this, substantial provision has this year been made to improve the road from Okaihau to Koreke.

WAIOTIRA NORTHWARDS,

Only a small amount .of work Ints been, done on the Waiotiia end of this section owing to the removal of ,m"en for ■concentration oji the Waiatira .southwards section. On the northern end work has been chiefly confined to tramway 'construction from the Wairoa River to the Omam tunnel. Formation and platelaying are being carried 07! from the river. The approach, cutting to the northern end of the Omana tunnel has been commenced, and a Nteani shovel which is being assembled will 'hortlv commence operations there. It is proposed to lay a tram-line over tlie tunnel hill to convey the steam shovel to the isowfliern side after the northern approach has Veil completed. The reason for operating on this isolate 1 portion is the necessity for .makino- ri-i early start with the Omana tun-

nel. which will take a long .time to drive, and would, if not started in advance, delay the final connection. Financial considerations may necessitate a modification of this programme.

An endeavour will be made during the current year to give effect to the Royal Commission 'a recommendation regarding the completion of the Iviriko-P'mi-Mar.gakaliia and the Manga kalrnKaikohe roads. The result ,of this work will be that when this .section of railway is completed, probably within the next few years, to Kirikopuni on the Wairoa River, the settlers northuaid of this point will have properly constructed access roads over which produce can be transported to the end of the finished line. WAIOTIR A SOUTH WA RDS. ..ikickie section.—The programme Of operations for the year was the concmtmtion of men on the completion of Waikiekie tunnel, rail connection with, nnd the early commencement of, tie Mareretu tunnel. The Waikiekie tunnel was finished about the end of April. The work was one of great difficulty. The ground proved treacherous for the entire { length, and particularly heavy a,nd close timbering had to ,be resorted to. I At the northern end a specially design- ! ed reinforced concrete section had to ' be 'built .before it was possible to timber and drive the rest of the tunnel. Plant and materials for works beyond this tunnel were conveyed over the ridge by means of a wire-rope tramway. This proved a very economical method, and enabled operations to be extended to the Mareretu tunnel immediately on completion of the work at Wiaikiekie. Exceptionally good progress 'has ibeen made, and it is hoped to complete the Marerotu tunnel by next April. A similar tramway to that in nse ar. Waikiekie has been built over this tunnel hill. The comfort of the men /at Mareretu has been provided for by the erectiom of hut accommodation (.120 huts), a boarding-house, oard a recreation hall, as well as the installation of an oiJicieibt water supply.

Bridge construction over 'lie iMaiigawai River and Kikowhiti .stream is progressing .satisfactorily; ;i faar amount of pktekying and "ballasting has been done. A small stone-crushing pla.nt is supplying metal for the tunnels. The Department's own sawmill has already cut over a quarter of a million feet, of timber for workmen's huts, tunnels, temporary sleepers, etc. GATsTTI NORTHWARDS. Pnpama Section. —AH earthworks were practically completed some time ago. Baparoa station yard has been extended, .and the bank at 92 aniles 10 chains raiso l. Huarau tunnel was completed about the end of January. TJiis tunnel gave groat trouble, the ground pierced being most treacherous. Similar expedients to those used at Waikiekie were necessary. Work, (preparatory to plat claying the last tw-o chains, was completed in April. The first lift of ballast on this length has been placed, except on the bonk at 01 miles .'!() chains. Two platelayers' cottages were finally completed, and, -with the excep- i tio.n of the Panama station yard arrangements. little work Temains to be done.

Mareretu. Section.-The permanent ■survey has been finished, anu formation 18 c °m P krto to 5)3 miles 53 chains (south end of Golden Stairs tunnel), and in hand as far as 5)5 miles 24 chains. PJa.telaying ami first lift of ballast is' complete to 93 mil(\s 41 chains. Owing to the slippery nature of the country"betwecT Papai-oa station and Golde-r. -Stairs tunnel, an additional 40,000 cubic yards of Jim to rial had to be excavaxed and deposited in the banks, which demonstrated the difficulty of maintaining a train transport, scrvice of the delivery of materia] and supplies to the Golden Stairs tunnel. A large amount of preliminary work had to be undertaken, such as service roads, drainage, etc., before tunnelling operations could he puit in hand. These operations have been completed. Shingle bins a«wl bath houses have been built, and water supply installed at the southern end. The total length . 0 f bottom heading driven is seven chains, and concrete lining lias been commenced. At the north end the approach cutting is in hand. The survey of a deviation from Marerotu station yard to 99 (milos is nearly complete. This was necessary owing to the level of the record flood of last year being too near the fanmatxon level. Some eight ist cairn shovels ; anu nine locomotives cue employed on the incomplete section between Portland, on the Wihaoigarei branch line, and Huarau, on the North Auckland main line, and it is hoped with this i plant to effect a temporary rail connection between Auckland iamd Whangarti before t'he end of next year. WHANGAREI BRANCH. Oaklcigh Section.—With the exception of 30 chains of deviation the whole line to Portland lias been laid and covered with the second lift of ballasts A concrete cottage has been Greeted at the Oakleigh station, and the bridge at 7 nilos 3.) chains will be finally (completed on the arrival of the steel girders. .Tauraroa Section.—Work on this section .lms iiocm con fined chiefly to maintenance (removal of slips), which ha.s been considerable. Ballast, has been obtained from Tnuraroa quarry for ballasting, road metalling, oulverting and tunnel lining. Y.aiotira Section. —The principal operations have been the removal of ' slips and the completion of two small deviations. The temporary line will shortly be removed, and a commoncement made with permanent platelaying. The unstable nature of the country traversed by this line may be realised mhe:i I say that two stoann sh.ovels and two trains have been almost continuously engaged in removing slip material to keep th.' line open for works trains. WATPU BRANCH. Ruakaka Section. —A steam shovel has recently been commissioned to complete the banks across the mud flats. The rest of the earthworks have been completed. Waipu Section. —Nearly all the formation over the first two miles of this section has been completed. Financial considerations may necessitate a modification of this programme, i

ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE. The sum provided on the estimates last year for road and bridge construction and maintenance was greater than that of any previous year since the inauguration of the public works policy. The expenditure also constituted a record.

The efforts of the Department have been directed mainly in providing primary access to lands already in occupation, but the improvement, widening, and metalliiig of existing access roads, and the construction and renewal of bridges, have not been neglccted. The greater part of the work has been undertaken by my own staff, but subsidised works, such as metalling, renewal J of bridges, etc., were in most cases entrusted to the local bodies concerned. A certain amount of modern road-mak-plant has been purchased and used with successful results. The use of motorlorries has cheapened the cost of haulage of metal, steam-shovels have been installed where the magnitude of the work warranted, and oil-driven roadrollers are being used in connection with metalling operations. In the prosecution of the various activities connected with roads and j bridges it is desired to utilise to the utmost all plant and machinery suitable for that purpose, whether the property of the Department or of the local authorities, so that all efforts may be co-ordinated towards the adoption of methods th:it would contribute towards efficiency, economy, and expedition in the carrying-out of work. It has been recognised that where there are at present no railway facilities, nor any likely to be in the early future, it is reasonable to provide suitable roads so as to compensate as far as possible for such disabilities. Tn accordance with this principle particular attention has been directed to the energetic prosecution of work in the

formation, metalling, and bridging of such important road connections as those between Napier and Gisborne, and between Te Kuiti and Waitara.

It is proposed that in future the appropriations for roads and bridges be based on an automatic system whereby; those districts that are backward in roading and in development shall receive a greater proportion of the amounts available than will other districts that are already well roaded and well developed. The basis for adjustment will include such factors as mileage of roads unopened, areas of Crown and Native land undeveloped, areas, of districts, populations, productivity, loans and mileage of roads still requiring improvement.

Efforts have been made and will be perfected whereby local authorities will be brought int6 closer touch with, local public works representatives. For instance, district and resident engineers will have the advantage of discussing proposed allocations direct with local authorities. This, it is hoped, will bring about better understanding and combined purpose and effort.

CONCLUSION. In conclusion, while regretting that the financial situation will not permit my carrying out all the work which the present favourable state of organisation and supply of labour and material would permit, it has been my* aim in drawing up my proposal? to so allocate the available funds as to ensure prosecution of the projects which will lead to maximum production and generally produce the greatest good for the greatest number.