"SLOWING DOWN."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11507, 1 October 1915, Page 6

"SLOWING DOWN."

PUBLIC WORKS POLICY. MARKED DECREASE I VOTES. (By Telegraph—Special la tho " Star.") WELLINGTON, October I. The steadying policy is plainly evident in i.ho Public, NVorks Estimates. 'J ho total vol.es, which last, year were £3,4172,]!J4, will bo found to bo about L'KXhOOO le.'-x on this nee;)'ion. while further oconomy will be secured by providing that tho vo&s must extend longer than hitlurto. p aotically meaning the spreading of the, year's appropr at,ions over fifteen months. There will he a marked cutting down of expend .tu.ro dipccially in public buildings, the intention of tho National Government being to defer construction of tho new buildings unt.il the eoiiclu ion of (.lie war. Only such buildings as are in course, of construet on and minor improvements will bo carried on There will be no appropriations for tho Auckland or We.lington railway stations' or for any of the big schemes outlined before t.he w. A reasonable amount will .appear for railway construe i.ion, while the development- of the neeejisit <•>:•> of tho country ni tho shape of roads and bridges w ill be provided for satisi'actor.iy. Money for these works will come out of tho .€2,000,000 already authorised to be raised in ''now Zealand, but the exact extent of the expenditure will depend upon financial circumstances. The total appropr a.lions for construction and improvement of ralways, roads and bridges will he about £1 ; 750.000. This moms £250,000 less for railways, wliich will bear the brunt of tho reduction, roads showing only a slight decrease. The niihvay rotes in-elncio South Island Main tmnk £20,000, M dlandWest Coast £70,000, and Otago Central £15,000.