PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8588, 26 November 1913, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

It is possible to discover in the Public Works Statement, which was submitted yesterday by the Hon. W. Fraser, a tone of something approaching cheery optimism which can scarcely bo reconciled with the doleful pessimism that characterised the utterances of the Minister during the recess when ho was approached by deputations for votes for necessary public works. Wringing his hands, in the metaphorical sense, it was bis custom in the intervals between the banqueting periods to despairingly declare that be had no money to spend on anything. There was actually no money to prevent a schoolful of .shivering children from being frozen. Now, we arc glad to observe that Mr Fraser has not only cheered up a bit, but has become positively boastful. Not only was there plenty of money all the time, but the expenditure was the greatest on record. This is certainly gratifying. In another part of the Statement, however, Mr Fraser frankly confesses that he did not spend all the money voted by the amount of £522,312. He does not trouble to explain why ho kept this £522.312 in the Treasury, in defiance of the instructions of Parliament that it should be spent on specified works, and his caution is all the more difficult to understand in view of his statement that bo had plenty of funds at his disposal. Wo accept Mr Fraser’s assurance that the expenditure during the financial year was the greatest on record. But it does not by any means follow that this' particular Minister for Public Works was responsible for that expenditure. If wo remember aright, the Mackenzie Government was in office during the earlier part of that financial year, and was responsible for setting a more vigorous pace in the matter of public works expenditure—a fact that Mr Fraser publicly bewailed when he came into power. Seeing that the expenditure was the greatest on record, and that Mr Fraser stopped works freely when ho took office and actually spent £522,312 less than was voted, it goes without eaying that the Mackenzie Government made the most of the three months they were in office at the beginning of the financial year. And more power to them. If they had not set the pace vigorously, and tied tho Hon. W. Fraser down to "commitments,” there might not have been any expenditure on public works at all. However, the Hon. W. Fraser has taken heart of grace. His treasury is full, and he is going to sot to work vigorously at last, or at least he promises ho is. His appropriations for the current year amount to £3,427,325. Of course, there is no guarantee that he will spend this money after it is voted, just as ho failed to spend much of it last year, and in any case nearly eight months of the year have already gone, so that ho will require to get a move on if he really intends to do something. However, the Hon. W. Fraser is a canny and cautious spendthrift. If he continues to make haste slowly in the prosecution of public works, as he is doing now, look at the money ho will save the country. Look at the magnificent balance he will have at the credit of the Public Works fund when Parliament meets next year. Think of the hoarded millions there will be for expenditure during the election year. The Hon. W. Fraser has not filled the position of Acting-Minis-ter of Finance for nothing. He has learnt the game.