The N.Z. Times SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1907. THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6362, 9 November 1907, Page 8

The N.Z. Times

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1907. THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

WITS WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE “ WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT.” ESTABLISHED 1815.

Tl-.o Statement read in the House of Representatives last night by the Act-ing-Minister for Public Works is a plain business-like document dealing with the work done during the twelve months ended on the 31st March, and detailing the operations for the current year. No new departure in policy is indicated, and there are no largo works in progress beyond those with which wo have been on familiar terms for some considerable time past. The Statement is, therefore, altogether free from those sensational elements which usually distinguished those during tho days when our borrowing policy was in its infancy. But what the Statement lacks in novelty is more than made up by its importance. During the past year the total amount expended upon railway construction, £1,345,793, is tho highest for any similar period during the last twenty-five years, and tho results are even more pregnant than the' figures might be supposed to indicate, inasmuch as some of the most important lines have attained, or are rapidly approaching, that stage of completion w-hen they may bo expected to provide something like an adequate return for their cost. AVo are, in fact, getting close to that period in our railway development when we may hope to reap where we have so diligently sown. It is unlikely that the yield of the harvest will lie (equally rich in every field, but there is a reasonable assurance that tho ground which has cost tho most to prepare will be the most productive. It is perhaps unnecessary to add that the allusion hero is to tho North Island Trunk Bailway, Mr McGowan’s Statement opens, with a graceful reference to his colleague, Mr Hall-Jones, who is at present recuperating, after his recent breakdown, at the other end of the world, and whose return restored in health is confidently anticipated by the members of the Cabinet. We cordially join in the hope expressed by the Acting-Minister that Mr Hall-Jones will bo able to devote many additional years to the service of the country. It will bo a special source of satisfaction to him to find that the Department of Public Works, to which he so devotedly attached himself during many anxious years, has been directed, during his enforced absence, with so much vigour and prescience. There is no doubt that, as Mr McGowan says, tho past year has been one of marked progress. As usual, the Minister summarises in tho opening paragraphs the operations of the year, and it may bo useful still further to compress that sfimrnary. The total expenditure on all works and services last year amounted, after deducting special accounts, to £2,040,319. Of this £919,730 was expended on now railway construction, making tho total of all such expenditure to the 31st March £19,591,003; £303,150 was spent on additions to open lines, , making £3,528,455; the grand total for railways being thus £23,119,458. Other large items in the year’s accounts were £347,470 for roads; £237,025 for public buildings; £42,272 for tourist and health resorts; and £114,068 for telegraph extension. The fund out of which this expenditure was met consisted mainly of £1,125,686, proceeds of the loans of 1905-6, £775,000 transferred from revenue and the departmental unexpended balance of £492,298. Tho current year began with a credit balance of £359,400, to which win .be added balance of old loan, £66,400, the new million loan, and £BOO,OOO from the consolidated fund, making a total of £2,315,800, which is expected to exceed the' expenditure by £108,849. Tlie detailed references to the separate works need not occupy attention in this place. It will be sufficient to note that satisfactory progress is recorded in relation to the North Island Trunk Railway, tho north and south ends of which are now rapidly approximating. The actual gap is now no more than twenty-four miles, and though a portion of the lines over which passengers are now carried is only of a temporary character, the Government proposes shortly to issue through tickets between Wellington, and Auckland, the link between the railheads consisting of a coach service over a good metalled road. It will be convenient here to notice the announcement, welcome for several reasons, that the Government has at last decided to take over tho Wellington-Manawatu railway. Tho existence of a section of

privat-eJy-ow ned line has, considering all the surrounding circumstances, long been an anomaly, but the immediate cause of the Government’s action is .the prospect of the early establishment of through railway communication between the two important commercial centres in the North Island. The Government has intimated that it intends to give the company forthwith the necessary twelve . months’ notice, and we may, therefore, expect to see before the end of 1908 a much desired concentration of railway facilities in Wellington. By that time, also, it is hoped the improvement to the Hutt lino and road will be nearly completed. We cannot do more in this article than merely refer to the facts, already known, in general terms that the construction of the Midland Railway is to receive a new impetus by the construction of the Arthus’s Pass tunnel, and that work on the Otago Central lino is for the present to be suspended. Other matters must stand over for treatment in a later issue.