EXPANSION OF ACTIVITIES

Southland Times, Issue 23921, 13 September 1939, Page 4

EXPANSION OF ACTIVITIES

Attention To Reading Facilities

RECONSTRUCTION of MAIN HIGHWAYS RIVER CONTROL BILL NEXT SESSION (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 12. “Since this Government assumed office the general prosperity of the country has increased, and it naturally follows that an expansion in public works is necessary not only to keep pace with, but to stimulate and promote, development,” said the Hon. R. Semple in presenting the Public Works Statement to Parliament today.

Special attention had been given to agricultural and pastoral requirements in the way of providing better reading facilities, and in many localities settlers now had the advantage of all-weather road access by reason of extensive metalling and bridging carried out during the past three years. The reconstruction and improvement of the cipal roading system of the Dominion had been advanced by a vigorous policy in respect to main highways, with the result that better transport facilities now existed for our primary industries and commercial activities. Considerable progress had also been made towards the completion of several major railway connections in both islands which would serve big areas of settled land which hitherto had been handicapped by inadequate means of transport. The development of hydro-electric schemes had enabled the State to augment its bulk supply to meet the increasing demands for power, and had also enabled reticulation to be extended into many additional areas. For the purpose of increasing production _ m districts which did not enjoy sufficient rainfall, major irrigation works werem progress, and although some of those schemes would not be completed for some time yet, those which had been in operation were showing excellent results. DEFENCE REQUIREMENTS The steadily increasing commercial air services and the requirements of defence had necessitated the construction and improvement of civil military aerodromes, and a substantial advance had been made in the past year towards the completion of many works in this category. The erection of public buildings of all kinds had proceeded, and much-needed accommodation had been, and was being, provided for the various departments of State. The mechanization of construction works had done much in the way of expediting progress and in enabling important and urgent works to be carried out at economic costs. “I am pleased to be able to record that the efficient organization and personnel of the Public Works Department has continued to function with every satisfaction, and the workmen have given of their best services in fulfilling the Government’s public works policy,” said Mr Semple. “In previous statements I have referred to the question of river control and to the necessity for introducing a comprehensive scheme for the purpose of arresting the accumulating losses of productive land through flood erosion. I had hoped to be able to introduce into the House this session a Bill to deal with the whole matter, but pressure of other work has prevented this. I am having the Bill prepared during the coming recess, and will have it ready to introduce next session.” EXPENDITURE LAST YEAR The gross expenditure for 1938-39 amounted to £21,091,543, of which £5,741,099 was expended by other Government departments; the recoveries in reduction of expenditure amounted to £4,169,654, of which £1,262,076 was recovered by other departments; the net expenditure totalled £16,921,888, of which £4,479,023 was expended by other departments. In addition, the department collected £1,703,366 for the supply of electric energy, irrigation receipts, and miscellaneous revenue from other sources. The estimated net expenditure under the general purposes account for the current year was £13,161,000, and arrangements were being made with the Minister of Finance to provide the necessary funds, said ’Mr Semple. That was the amount shown on the Public Works Estimates, which also showed an estimated net expenditure of £1,840,000 from the electric supply account and £5,267,200 from the main highways account, a total for all these accounts of £20,268,200. For the current financial year, 193940, a sum of £750,000 would be provided from the Consolidated Fund for expenditure on maintenance of public works and services. The expenditure on main highways from revenue was estimated to reach £2,787,000 and from loan moneys £2,480,200. It was estimated that approximately £141,486 revenue from the electric supply account would be available after providing for sinking fund, interest and operating expenses for expenditure on construction works; the balance of the year’s construction programme under this heading—£l,273,6o0—would be raised by way of loans.