The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1902.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11671, 3 February 1902, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1902.

Notwithstanding the numerous statements made by Ministers with regard to the Public Works Fund, and the reasons given for the stoppage of so many of the authorised public works, the community is very much in the dark concerning the position. This i.s in a large measure owing to the fact that individual Ministers have given conflicting information, and in more than one instance a Minister has told one story as it might be to-day, and a different story, probably to another audience, a few days later. We have seen such disagreements on former occasions, but perhaps not quite to ihe same extent. Mr Hall-Jones may be credited with one or two versions; the Piemier with a yet gi eater variety; and even Sir Joseph Ward has not been altogether consistent, and has necessarily contradicted some of the stories told by his colleagues. The public are at least in the happy position that they pay their money and tan take their choice. The discharging of men from the Government works appears to have commenced on the North Island Main Trunk Railway. The reason then given by Mr Hall-Jones was that he was merely carrying out the practice of former years, namely, discharging men when they had the best chance of obtaining work from private employers. At that time, according to him, there was no other reason for what was being done, and he was quite indignant at the suggestion of shortness of funds. Shortly afterwards, when public feeling against the action of the Minister was strongly manifested, the Premier appeared on the scene, ■

and expressed hot disapproval of the " sackings," and talked of getting the men to work again. He, however, said that the vote for the North Island Main Trunk Railway had been exceeded by but that he intended to spend another £20,000 without the authorisation of Parliament. Subsequently, and in another part of the colony, he denied that he had said anything of the sort. It would serve no good purpose to go through all. the conflicting stories to which the public have been treated during the last few weeks. A part of the truth is, however, manifest. The Public Works Fund is not entirely expended; in fact, it ought not to be "in extremis." But, as our readers are aware, the gross amount approjniated for public works by Parliament is, by the same authority, split up into portions for each separate work, so that it may happen, and we suppose has happened, that in some cases there is no more money available, whilst in others there still remain balances. We assume that the whole of the money set aside last session for the North Island Main Trunk Railway has been spent, and that any expenditure now being incurred on that line is illegal. But the dismissal of men from the public works is going on in various parts of the colony. If it is for the reason given above, namely, that in each case the vote is expended, the Minister is justified in his present action. It would be illegal to go on spending money when there is no vote to authorise it. Very likely Parliament would not have appropriated more for public works; and under the present political system, the Minister has to split up the • gross' vote into portions so as to satisfy as far as possible the demands of the various constituencies. None must be neglected or there is likely to be trouble at election time. It is a rotten system, which is giving the colony a number of lines the construction of which might very well have been postponed. We should have much preferred seeing really important national works like the North Island Main Trunk Railway pushed forward vigorously all the year round, to have the public ' works vote split up as it is under the present system. Some people are under the impression that there will be a very ■ early session of Parliament this year, principally for the purpose of obtaining a new public works appropriation as soon as possible. Probably,' however,, things will be allowed to go on as at present till the 31st March, after which the Government can continue their expenditure under all heads for three months at the rates of the appropriations authorised last session. The public works now suspended can then be resumed for the period mentioned. That appears to be the intention of the Premier. He was interviewed at Auckland on Friday last, and in reply to a question said: —"Under the Public Revenues Act, after •March 31st we can spend for the next three months on the same basis as last year, so that there is a prospect that the* work will be resumed after March 31st, should circumstances warrant such a course." At the beginning of the same ! interview the Premier was asked If it was true that the appropriations for the twelve months out of the Public Works Fund had already been expended. He replied, " No, the appropriation was £2,487,000, and on December 31st the financial expenditure was -up to £1,622,896. That would not include the imprest, which can be put down at £200,000, so that that leaves a fair balance for the expenditure for the remaining three months of the financial year." The Premier was obviously alluding to the appropriation "in globo." As we have already said, some of the separate items have been entirely expended, some have been exceeded, and, some have balances.