THE PREMIER DEPUTATIONISED.

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 February 1902, Page 2

THE PREMIER DEPUTATIONISED.

AUCKLAND, January 31. The, Premier, interviewed on the stoppage of public works, wa-s asked is it tnie that the appropriations for the twelve months out of the Public Works Funds have already been expended? He said no. The appropriation was £2.487.000, and on the 31st of December the financial expenditure was up to charge £1,622,897. Then that would not include imprest, which can be put down at about £200,000. that leaves a fair balance for expenditure for the. remaining three months of the financial I yenr. It. has been said that there has been | a large -expenditure in-; addition to open lines, but that is not so.1 That amount is well-nrithimtheappropriation. " lii answer toi'a question as to whether it is not to the best "advantage of the Government to have the work done at the most* favourable time, the Premier said in the summer other work is more plentiful for the men to get. Work in winter time did not'cost the colony n\ore than 'in fine weather. The Government' engineer prepares a schedule shelving- the value ■of the wqrk. whether it is winter n;1. duinihef.. * !•"> <?one does1 not affect that value". He fixes the price so as to allow the men to earn as nearly as possible the wages ruling in the locality. The men may perhaps be able to make more in summer than in winter, but so far as expense to the colony is concerned it does- not cost more, when done in winter. In winter more, men are put on because work is scarcer, and the men might otherwise ]{$ .loafing1 about the streets,, yuc we got blamed because mo find employment for the men in winter time when ' work is Kcarce. and put them off in summer.

How long1, then, will the work be.stopped? tin- Premier was next asked. Ho said thiat under the Public "Revenues Act, -after the 31st of March, we can .spend, for tho next three months, on the same,basis as lust year, so there is v prospect- that'the ■work will be resumed after the 31st of March, should circumstances warrant such a course.