PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 31, 16 October 1894, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

i.The Public Works- Statement’ was delivered by the Minister for Public Wprks.fthe Hon R. J. Seddon) on the 11th October* 1894.

After some preliminary remarks, Mr Seddon stated The Government believe it to be their duty to meet the urgent demand for small settlements, and that in -doing so they are acting in the true interests-of colonisation. By settling the people on the land permanent prosperity^-will also be assured, and ? tbe loss of population .effectually prevented. Making provision for these purposes has had the effect of swelling the proposed expenditure of the year to considerably more than wan appropriated last year. On, reference, however, to part of it, will be seen that the amount 'asked for under that part of the fund is only £641,980, being less by £48,880 thai-Jvf s appropriated -last year. The difference is principally accounted for by a redu6-" tion of nearly £IOO,OOO in the vote for roads, and an increase of nearly £40,000 in the vote for development of goldfields, and about £IO,OOO in the vote for public- buildings. The total increase in the appropriations under all'heads will be £229,703. An increased expenditure is proposed under the head of the main roads, amounting to £16,061. The principal portion of this is owing to the necessity for provision being made for the main roads north of Auckland, the maintenance of roads generally, and especially of roads from Nelson'to Westland, and Hokitika to Christchurch. The local authorities are absolutely unable to maintain these roads. In some of the districts mentioned there has been no other public Works expenditure. They have no railways, and while there are vast areas of Crown and native lands there is very little rateable property. The keeping open of these roads is of colonial as well as local importance, more particularly in regard to - the tourist traffic. The cause, which has necessitated increased expenditure this year, is the exceptionally bad harvest, low prices, and especially the failure of owners of property, from various causes, to make improvements, thus throwing out of work a very- large number of very deserving colonists. The distress during the winter, more' particularly in large centres, has been very great, add it devolves upon the Government to meet this unforseen difficulty, and to make provision to alleviate,- as far as possible, the' wants and requirements of those who, through no fault of their own, were thrown out of work. The Government has, however, rigidly adhered to the I policy that -it was the duty "of the State to find employment only on reproductive works, and on improving- lands, the property of the Grown. Accordingly, the roads put in hand are only such as are required: for the promotion of settlement and the development of the resources of the colony. The other works undertaken have been busbfelling and other improvements on Crown lands, and by this means also settlement has been promoted. ; It was no doubt intended, with regard to minor works, such as roads and bridges, that local governing bodies should deal with these questions. All the machinery was thus provided, but a serious defect, ahd one which has not been rectified, crept in—viz., the local authorities were' not provided with an insured revenue upon which they could depend for the construction of the necessary works, and for maintenance of the same when constructed. The Government'have already stated its intention of- introducing next session amended proposals with regard to local government. Pending the necessary legislation; being passed and the necessary funds being thus provided, Parliament is asked to follow the usual course and make due provision for the several works enumerated. The estimates of the amounts required for road works are in excess of those asked for during the last three years, bat this excess is largely due to the purchase of native lairds and to the amount required for roaditrg land purchased. 5 - A large amount is also required for farm settleihents and for land improvements and main road maintenance.' In respect to the latter, as previously stated, the condition of the finances of the local authorities is such that it is impossible for them to bear the expense of these road*.

ROAD AND RAILWAY EXPENDITURE. A pleasing feature will be found in the fact that while there has been a large increase in expenditure on roads, which are a great and absolute necessity—in fact, the life blood of settlement—there has been a considerable decrease in expenditure on railways. Hon members will, I feel sure, agree with me that the construction of district roads and maintenance of main roads in settled districts is, owing to our defective system of local government, to some extent defensible as a charge upon the Consolidated fund. ' PUBLIC LAND FUND. ■ The Colonial Treasurer has already mentioned, in the EinancialStatement, the proposal to again transfer a sum of £25,000 from the Consolidated Fund for general public works purposes. An amount of £54,681 will also be available from released sinking funds. Under bur reconversion operations, a further sura of £250,000 will be available for roads and bridges and the preparation of lands for settlement and for assistance to settlers, to enable them to make improvements under the Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act ; and a further sum for the purchase and reading of native lands under the same Act. ROADS. Under the head of main roads, 1 £23,039 was voted last year, and £25,285 spent, with liabilities at the end'of the year of £9242. For miscellaneous roads and roads to open up Crown lands, £148,287 was authorised, including £BO,OOO from the Government Loans to Local Bodies Account,

and £88,042 spent, while liability*, amounting to £87,861 were’ outstabu* ing at the end of tbo'year. ■ For grants, in all £11,663 were vbled, and'£B96l spent, with liabilities at the end of .the year of £BBB9. Village settlements 4 votes, £3BBO (spent £2898; liabiuUes, £1480), and finally, roads to give-ac-cess to Martori—Te Awamutu .railway, voted £40,800, spent £85,155> liabilities £14,191. The following sum-.;; mary shows the road works petfortiulS : during the year: pray roads. cSfij structed, 296 miles; dray roads approved, 228 miles i dfAy roads tained, 1216' miles; bridle _roads £bn* structed, 238; milesbridle*roads* Jm» * proved, ISS^miles; bridle roads maintained, 405 miles. Roads from tervillo to Murimotu and Pipiriki (at the head' of steamCr gation of WangShuF RivCr, via Kariori) to .Moawhahga, ''have been formed throughout, but' hot. wholly, metalled. The Stratford-Ongarnbe Road has been formed, for mile's’ from Stratford end, and for about 16 miles irOni Ohgaruhe end, leaving _57 miles to complete the connection with. , Auckland. Of roads through the Crown lands : and roads to give access . to them through settled districts, 1402 miles were constructed and maintained last year. The cost of constructing , and maintaining main roads during the pasV year wasabout £IO,OOO paore ; than in the previous year, and for the current year the expenditure is esfi- - mated at a still higher rate. ‘ It must he evident to those who have travelled; r over the principal roads and bridges of the colony, which are wholly or partly ’ maintained at the expense of County 3 Councils, that they are fast falling into ' disrepair; and as it would be.false economy to permit such works, constructed at great expense, to get into such a state as to require further large expenditure to restore them,* it is proposed in seme cases, to entirely take over the control, and in other cases to assist the counties. It is abundantly evident that many local authorities are financially unable to, bear the burden of; the cost of maintaining such roads as carry the through traffic of the , colony, especially in parts where no rates can be collected for main roads.. The large sum of £40,000 is asked for in order to execute the works detailed,. and which works the local authorities are unable to provide. The provision made for miscellaneous roads amounts . to £20,000, These roads are mainly, for the convenience of settlers WnQ have in years gone by acquired lands ~ from the Crown, but who are not yet provided with reasonable means of access to the properties. A few of the works are for the,, convenience of; tourists. The sum of £20,005 is required for roads to give access to the. North Island Main Trunk railway. The principal work to he undertaken is'a further length of the StratfordOngaruhe Road, to connect Auckland with Taranaki. . . The other sums applied for are to the PipirikiKarioi Road, and a portion of the Hunterville-Tokaanu Road, and... to open tracks into Crown tends adjacent to the railway line. Out of the lands improvement account it is proposed to spend £150,000 in the construction of roads and tracks to open up Crown , lands; This,- as already stated, is of prime importance to the further settlement of the country. Under the heading of grants in .aid, there are three items which call for some notice. These are: (1) Co-operative works for unemployed, £5000; ,(2) improved* farm settlements,'" £20,000 ; and (8) advances to co-operative workmen, £SOO. The first is intended to meet uuforseen demands' for employment, and for works the necessity for which; may arise during the year. second is to provide means to pay for ~ the bushfelling, burning, and gassing of Crown lands in moderate • areas suitable for working .paen of smSll . means. In this way a start mil be*., given to the farmer, and the Government will receive intejfest in, the way ■ of rent on the improved value of the land let. The third item ds to enable the Government, to make" snlaH .advances to co-operative, workmen em- *, ployed on the construction *of through Crown lands, to enable; them; to bring their families bn to works And out of the cities, where they are paying - rent; advances will be refundablerOUt of the men’s earnings, and it .proposed to lease to men who desire it small area around each dwelling. The roads which it is proposed to construct out of the land purchase account will absorb about £40,000 during tlwr present year. This Amount Will be., used in laying out of roads and the constructibh to show how best to subdivide awl settle the newly acquired lands. It is; proposed to obtain under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act the full amount of £50,000 wliich the Act authorises. .The land upon wliich this sum will be expended has beeh placed in the market or disposed of loaded with sums sufficient, to pay interest and sinking fund in accordance with regulations made tinder the Act.; It has often been said by person# in; whose district no railway works were; under construction that the Govern-; ment were expending too much; money on railways and too little on roll's. .1 have, therefore, had a. statement prepared, showing the amounts voted for and expended on roads and railways respectively during the last fiye which, I think, will show that whatever blame may attach to. former Governments in this respect no auen charge can be laid at the door the present Government. While amounts voted for railways have generally declined during recent years, 'amounts voted for roads have steadily increased'. The same also applies to the expenditure, the expenditure on railways having been greater in 1890-91 tlian in 1898-94, whereas the,road expenditure in the former year was less than half the amount expended in the latter.