PUBLIC WORKS EXPENDTTURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2689, 27 September 1905, Page 37

PUBLIC WORKS EXPENDTTURE.

SOME PROVINCIAL COMPARISONS. CFkou Our Own Cop-hespoxdent.) WELLINGTON, September 21. A return showing the total expenditure on public works in the various provincial districts during the last two financial yeav.=, whioh was ordered some time ago on the motion of Mr Davey (one of the Chri-t-church members), was presented to Parliament to-day. The return is as follows: — A v^o r a gr 0 imnibar ot mail Amount employed by expended. Government. Auckland ». .. £693 323 .. 1491 Tarai-aki ... .. 128,602 .. 252 H<".wke's Ba? .. .. 92,962 .. 116 Wellington .. .. 512,782 .. 1122 Marlborough .. .. 23,592 .. 64 Nelson 230,376 .. 238 Westlancl .. .. 131,495 .. 139 Canleibiuy .. .. 335,35 C.. 495 Otago and Southland 517,962 .. 660 The actual number of men employed is not available, as many of them are employed by contractors and others. Tho following return, showing the annual expenditure on railway construction in the two islands for the past five years, was also presented to Parliament to-day : — Year. North Island- South Island. IROO-01 .. £203,475 .. £189.216 ■ 901-02 .. 281,117 .. 279,594 ISO 2-03 .. 188,996 .. 181.529 1903-04 .. 273,782 .. 244,180 1904-05 .. 218.567 ... 204,401 Totals .. £1,195,937 _ ".". £1,098,920 The annual expenditure on additions to open lines for t t he same period was as follows:—North Island, £936.803 (£103, 137 'last year) ; South Island, £1,148,709 (£161,103 last year).