PUBLIC WORKS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16211, 23 August 1923, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS

FORECAST OF PROPOSALS

(Special to the Herald!)

WELLINGTON, this day. The Public Works Statement will be presented to-day. It is a. greatly-con-densed document compared with former Statements,.'although its importance is mot decreased by its conciseness. Expenditure is to proceed on similar lines to last ayear, both in regard to railways construction, for which £1,500,000 is -required, and hydro-electric development, which needs nearly a. million sterling to continue the programme of development indicated some years ago by Mr. -Coatee, The Minister having steadily pursued the concentration policy of railway construction is able to show that' it is securing the promised results, and that within the next two years 150 miles of completed railway will -be handed over, forming useful parts of a system; instead of being isolated sections. TheMidland line still requires expenditure in the Completion of obligations, but this, together with the North Auckland line and the East Coast Main Trunk (northern section) are to be got out of hand, so that a further series of lines can re* ceive the, benefit of the concentration policy, when the Minister predicts progress which will ultimately result in their completioni earlier than if the effort had been diffused. .

The railways which' come first on the now concentration policy ai-e WestportInangahua, -which, will open, w£ new coalfields of steam coal, connecting them with the South Island system; the Napier-Gisborne ; section of the East Coast line, and the continuation of tho North Auckland line with tho object of ultimately tapping Hokianga harbor. Work is to bo started this year oh the Westport-Inangahua line, and it is intended to push on the Tutira section of the Napier-Gisbomo ■ line, and to complete the Wairoa-Waikokopu branch within 18 months. Tho Opunakb line is expected to bo completed within two years, and when a further concentration policy is possible attention will'' be directed to the difficult central section of the Stratford Main Trunk line, where) tunnelling is necessary. It is intended to push on the Matiero section, and'next year to renaw operations from the Ohura end, so that the whole line will be opened when the central section is completed. The Minister states that the llimutaka deviation, on the Wnirarapa line, and the Tawa Flat deviation, on the Wollington-Manawafu line, near Wellington, are to be constructed, for the first time appropriations for theso works appear in the estimates, enabling preparations to commence, though the 'statement says the date «j| the actual start of the Vork will dcA pond on financial circumstances... The hydro-clcetric developmental plans formerly indicated are to bo continued, involving an outlay this year of £9(54,000. It is ah own .that la.st year for .toolfirst time, the Coleridge scheme showed a profit of -£5300, of tea- allowing interest and depreciation, though excluding sinking fund, and tho Horahora scheme returned a profit of £6269. Development, will,contimic of Horahora; Arapuni, Coleridge, Mangakao, and Waikarcmoana,., Investigations have been made foa? power sources in Otago, Marlborough* Nelson, and Wostland.

Tho l-oadiug section of the statement refers to tho absolute necessity of coordination between tho Governiiieiht and all authorities concerned transport of goods and passengers ■on land. This feature of public works receives less prominence, as tho Highways Board takes more responsibility tor development. Financial provision, is, however, made for! road development at an unabated pace. In referring to tho successful introduction of the printing- telegraph, into Now Zealand, the Minister mentions its early extension to Christclmrclvahd Dune-din, and tho connection of Napier with Auckland and Wellington by tho same medium.