The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16, 1910. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIII, Issue 14350, 16 November 1910, Page 4

The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16, 1910. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Tlie long awaited Public Works Statement, which the Minister in charge of Public- Works (tlie Hon. R. McKenzie) stated last week, in reply to anxious inquiries, would not be brought down till Friday, was after all presented by liim last evening. This dispels the fear, which was expressed by one member, that tlie Minister had lost his Statein cut. and now that its appearance has been hastened we hope that the Supplementary Estimates which accompany it will receive the calm and deliberative 'consideration of the House, and not be rushed through blindfold as lias usually been the practice in the past. We learn from the Statement that last year's expenditure for public works was among the largest ever known, and that this year tlie amount spent oil all works ordinarily undertaken by tlie Department will be still greater. The actual charges against the Public Works Fund last year (excluding special accounts having their own ways and means), were £1,993,171: this year an expenditure is proposed of £2,855,000, providing for the enormous increase of £801,829. At tlie same time such generous provision has been made by means of loans and otherwise for tlie year which ends on March 31st- next, that the balance of £312.366, remaining at the end of last financial year, will be increased to a balance of £957,366, to be carried forward into the exacting period which includes the general elections. The transfer to tlie Public Works Fund of £BOO,OOO from the Consolidated Fund is a satisfactory feature of the year's operations, due to the unexpected prosperity of the revenue. Tlie amount which the Prime

ill ni.si or proposed io transfer when he presented his Financial Statement was £500,000, and it was 011 this basis that lie lixeil at £'1,750,000 the amount of a loan required for railways, roads, and other public works. 'J'lm surplus ot' £-".'i00,000 which tin* (joveriuniMit will now have beyond what it previously estimated as iis requirements, can he usefully employed in " sweeiening- " constituencies prior to the elections, and it is a pity that the Government should not have made better use of its largely increased revenue than to have increased its borrowing' and nnded to taxation. xi the increased expenditure for public works meant that the money voted would be used for the economical construction of necessary works and the real development of the Dominion, only satisfaction could be felt at the record sum which the Government intends spendingl. It is well known, however, that the public works policy of the Government, is not carried out upon economical or statesmanlike lines. To please the greatest number of constituents, money is frittered away on little railway lines in all parts of the country which the Government has no intention of finishing l for many years to come, instead of attention being l concentrated on the completion of the most needed lines. It is only a few weeks since the Prime Minister, in response to southern pressure, promised to extend the hopeless Lawrence - Roxburgh line to Beaumont, against the better wisdom of the Government as previously expressed, and provision is made for this extension in the Estimates. The cost of railway construction, also, has for some reason increased so enormously in Jvew Zealand that whereas in 1901 the cost per mile for construction was £791-5, it is now, according to official figures, £10,494. This disparity is not explained by the Hon. l£. HcKenzie's statement that the new railways are better built, and that the new lines are being laid in more difficult country. Apart from the Midland railway, none of the lines are being built ui rougher country than opposed the construction of many of our earlier railways. As compared with the amount of £10,494, which_ represents the cost of construction of a mile of railway in JYew Zealand, the cost in Queensland, where the railways are of the samo gauge, is no more than £6089.

The extended reference to tlie Government's intentions in regard to the development of water power forms an interesting section of the Statement. It is satisfactory to learn that the Government is in possession of no less than four reports on the Lake Coleridge scheme, and that it is not improbable that this project may be put in hand within a reasonable time. The decision to obtain the services of aliydraiilic and electrical engineer of good standing to report upon these water schemes is one which could not be avoided if the Government desires to proceed with proper caution in these important undertakings. We do not think, however, that the Government will be able in practice to proceed nearly so quickly with its schemes for water development as it continually professes to expect. The statement with regard to public works, that this year it is proposed to invite the local authorities to submit _ their proposals for the expenditure of the sums available forthwith, and that, if reasonable expedition is exercised in doing this, there should be no difficulty in the formal grants being in their hands and available for expenditure within a few; days of the passing of the appropriations, is one that will give general satisfaction. The arrangements which the Government is making to provide "wireless" stations in the Dominioiv are also to be commended.