The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1912. PUBLIC WORKS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 47, 19 October 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY , OCTOBER 19, 1912. PUBLIC WORKS.

The first Public Works Statement of tlic new Government was delivered in the House last night by the Hon. Y\ 7 . Fraser. It is a singularly plain statement setting forth in detail what was expended last year on Public Works, and what it is proposed to spend next year and how, in the latter case, it is estimated the necessary funds will be obtained. On this score, at any rate, there should be no complaint, for the latter-day tendency to incorporate political speeches with a distinct party flavour, in every so-called “statement,” has become rather nauseating, and Mr Fraser is to be congratulated on leaving this part of the .business alone as much as possible. Taking the policy of the Statement as a whole, there is nothing in it drastically opposite to the policy contained in the statements issued by the Party so long in office. To those who looked for complete revolution this is, perhaps, disappointing, but we do not very well see how it could have been managed, and to upset things merely for the sake of upsetting them, even if it did please some profound haters of the disintegrated Party now in onposition, would have been mere foolishness. The Hon. the Minister Public Works, sets out quite early the important dictum that to give the settlers access to their holdings by means of roads should be he first consideration in any scheme of public works. With this we entirely agree, and trust the Minister will give practical evidence of his intention to adhere to this line as closely as possible. The estimates indicate an intention of doing so, but here again we find the multiplicity of small votes which the Minister deplores. Mr Fraser supports his predecessors in drawing attention to “the unwillingiies of some local bodies to accept their proper responsibility in regard to maintenance work.” This is all very well, but with empty coffers and no loan money forthcoming for urgent new works, we are afraid the outlook in this direction is not a bright one for local bodies who, in many cases, cannot spend money because they have not gat it, and arc roundly abused because their roads are falling to pieces. Opening the year with a credit balance of £82,000, it is proposed to provide additional funds by taking the balance of the 1911 loan (£1,050,000), borrowing a further £1,750,000, and transferring from the consolidated fund £750,000. Rorrowing is therefore not to cease entirely, and £2,800,000 of loan money is to be devoted to this year’s Public Works expenditure. This certainly is also not very greatly different from the policy

of Mr Fraser’s “predecessors.” We are glad to note that activity in railway construction generally is advocated. The Minister has something to say in support of lighter and cheaper railways as feeders to the main line, but this is not by any means new ground. Other matters dealt ■ w.tu are much as usual in such statements, but, on the whole, there appears vc;\ little to find fault with.