PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 20474, 2 October 1915, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

i LOAN OF £2,000,000 PROPOSED

The Hon. William Eraser, Minister of Public Works, yesterday presented the Public Works Statement to the House of Representatives. Below we give, in summarised form, tho principal features of the Statement: —• When. I delivered the Public Works Statement last year the general impi'csaion was that the war would not last much moire than one year. At present who will venture to predict when the war will -terminate? It is a somewhat extraordinary fact • tnai, notwithstanding the thousands of workers who have joined the Expeditionary Forces', some 5,000 men still, require to be engaged on public works to prevent the cry of unemp'-oymenl being heard. This is some measure is explainable during the winter months^ but not so during summer and autumn, when shearing,' harvesting, andi 'the other operations incidental to the primary industries will require a considerable amount of labour. These primary industries must be considered, or the country as a whole will sult'eir. That this labour may have to be provided for by slackening off work on railways, roads, and, bridges during summer and autumn is very probable. There is no intention to exploit labour on behalf of those carrying on such industries, but- employment on public works cannot be found fc|r those to whom work at fair rates is offered elsewhere. It is generally recognised vnat it will not be wise during the continuance of the war to expend more borrowed money than is absolutely necessary. ; The expenditure during the financial year ended 31st March, 1914—2,949,----992 —constituted a record, but the similar expenditure for 1914-15 was actually larger—viz., £2,953,368—made up of xi,835,692 tinder the Public Works Fund and allied' special accounts, and £117,676 under thj Consolidated Fund. WAYS AND MEANS. On the Ist April, 1914, the available ways and rr.eans for public works purposes were ... ...... £1,178,584 And further funds were received as under: —- Under the Aid to Public Works' and Land Settle- ■ ment Act, 1913 217,778 Under tho Aid to Pubbc Works aud Land. Settle- ' inert Act, 1914 ... ... ... ... 1,525,000 Under the New Zealand Loans Act, 1908..; ...... 26,114 Premium on sale of 4 per cent, debentures ... ... ... _8,750 Transfer from revenue ... ... 350,000 Other receipts ... ... 9,422 Making a gross total of .£3,315,648 The ordinary expenditure of the year amounted to £2,557,295, charges and expenses in respect of raising loans £35,495, redemption of debentures £11,800, and other expenditure £15,- ---■ 296, thus bringing the total disbursements up to £2,619,886,.and leaving a credit balance at the end of the year of £695,762. For the current year, it is proposed to provide additional funds as under :— Balance of unauthorised loan moneys ;.. ...: ...... ... ...£1,476,100 Proposed new loan ... 2,000,000 The above/with the balance brought forward, gives a gross total of £4,171,----862. Tl.o estimated expenditure for public works for the current year (excluding separate accounts having their own ways and means) amounts to £2, • 803,550, leaving an estimated balance of £1,368,312 to be carried forward to next .yeslr (1916-17). In addition to the above we have authority to raise, outside the Public Works Fund, the undermentioned sums : — '~ . Under the Aid to Water-power Works Act, 1910 ...;... .:.£246,<?00 Under the Irrigation and Water-supply* Act, 1913 ... 29,900 Under the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Act, 1910 ... ... ... 50,000 RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. The following sections, of railway were completed and opened for trafbro during the last financial year: — Otiria to Kaikohe. 16m. 25ch., May, 1914. Kaihu to Tarawhati, 2m. 35ch., June, 1914. Cronadun to Inangahua, 13m. Och., June, 1914. Cass to Arthur's Pass, 14m. 65ch., July, 1914. Pohokura to Whangamomoma, vjm. 13ch., July, 1914. Kaiwaka to Otamatea, 2m. 45ch., August, 1914. " Otoko to Matawai, 12m. 50ch., November, 1914. Big Hill to Beaumont, sm. 36ch., December, 1914. Houipapa to Tahakopa, I7 m . 56ch., February, 1915. Total, 91m. sch. ■ The following lengths are practically completed, but have not yet been handed ovrfr to the railway authorites fw traffic :— ' / M. eh. Otamatea to Ivlanngaturoto ... 4 10 Maunganui to Te Puke .. 13 4 Mount Egmont Branch ...... 2 77 Whangamomona to Kohurntahi 4 54 WardtoM;lls ... 7 50 The totp.l expenditure on railway construction find improvement work during last financial .year amounted to £1,155,776, as under:— £ Construction of new lines ... 546,878 Additions to open lines ... ... 499,875 Railways Improvement Account * 9,023 Details of works in progess air© given. OHAKUNE—RAETIHI BRANCH. Formation work is completed >or seven miles, and is in hand over the remaining I'mile 50 chains. All the culverts are in place and piers ior most of the bridges built. Steelwork for bridge superstructure is slow m coming to/ hand: Platelaying ;s ia progress, and ballasting will follow m a month, or two. R ANGITIKEI RIVER BRAN CH.. In the Railways Authorisation Act of last year was included a new araur-h line from Greatford to a point vi i-he Rangitikei River bed, from whi'-li z supply of metal could be obtained for usa by the Government and by lc»e;ii bodies in South Taranaki. Sine, itie passing of the Act negotiations have been in progress between the Govrrn-mei-t and the Rangitikei County Council, wlio have a somewhat r=srriil ir scheme in contemplation, as to the manner in which the racial deposit could be worked to the grea'osc <v\vantage. Pending a, definite iirrartgement of terms and condition* or supply no construction work has k'cn dona on the line*. TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION 1. In acVlition to the votes mpnt.ione.fi ;in detail, an appropriation of £1,003

is required to provide for old landclaims and other liabilities on Construction Account, £5,000 for surveys of projected new lines of railway r ;md £100,000 for permanent way marenau. The total vote proposed this year fo:1 railway.-construction amounts to £700,----000. OTHER RAILWAY WORKS. The expenditure during the financial year out of the vote for additions w open lines amounted to £524,391, and out of this sum £307,385 was spent on rolling-stock, tarpaulins, workshops, machinery, Westinghouse brake equip ment and) petrol electric car. Tho balance of £217,006 covered expenditure on improvements to wharves, wat-er-services, station accommodation and yards, engine depots, Parnell Tunnel duplication, installation of tablet, telegraph, and telephone facilities, atec signalling and interlocking p-ant. Grade improvement works on tho North Island Main Trunk line involved an expenditure of £29,854. ana mic Mechanics Bay reclamation accounted for £37,999. This latter work tnrms an integral part of the new Auckland station rearrangements anil railway scheme. The Duned'n-Mosgiel duplicated line ■ was opened for, traffic on Ist June, 1914, and the expenditure incurred in this work during the year was £5,273. Tho vots proposed for the current* year amounts to £500.000. IIOADS AND BRIDGES. The total amount provided on lastfinancial year's appropriations" under all votes and accounts (including the Consolidated Fund Vote for Maintenance, but excluding the Land for Settlement Account —loading;) ,was £1,----070,300. The amount authorised for I expenditure under the same votes ana accounts during the year, added to the \ unexpended balance of authorities at {list March, 1914, totalled £1,197,401. The expenditure for the twelve months amounted to £666,237, leaving an unexpended balance at 31st March last of £531,164. In regard to expenditure on road, etc., worK'3 under the Land for Settlements Account, the money is, ot course, provided by special loan raised on the security of each block of land, and is not shown on the appropriations. , Under this head the amount placed at the disposal of this Department b.v the Minister of Lands for expenditure during the year (including the xmspent balance at 31st March, 1914) amounted to £17,360. whilst the expenditure for twelve months amounted to £8,536. For the current year the provision made for roads and bridges has not been limited on account of prevailing conditions, but it must of course be understood that the authorisation of expenditure will, be dependent upon the Government's ability to raise the necessary loan for public works purposes. Moreover, it is not intended that the ways and means provided sftall be expended by 31st March, 1915, but they are expected to suffice i 31st December, 1910 or even, if necessary, to 31st March, 1917. TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR ROAD WORKS. , Tne appropriations last year were as under :■ — £ Roads, etc. 557,700 Backblock roads., etc 201,00u Goldfields road, etc 53,b00 Improved farm settlement roads 10,000 Opening up Crown Lands for Settlement Account 173,300 National Endowment Account 4U,UIiO Maintenance of roads (Consoldiated Fund) ... 45,000 Total ... ...£1,080,300 The provision for the current year is as under :— £ Roads, etc 300,000 Backblock roads, etc 160,000 Roads on goldfiejds ... 40,WJU Improved farm settlements ... 5,610 Land for Settlements Ac... 130,vajU, National Endowment Account 40,U00 New Hutt Road ... ... 250 Maintenance of roads (Consolidated Fund)) 50,000 Total ...... £725,860 DEVELOPMENT OF MINING. The value of the mineral output for the-year amounted to £2,752,730, being a decrease as compared with the output of the previous year. This was only to be expected, however, in view of the prohibition of the export of certain minerals during me term of the war. , • ■ The output of coal was the highest yet-recorded, "being 2,275,593 tons, an increase of 387,588 tons over the output of the previous year. Splendid marble is bemg produced from the Nelson district, and to aid lii the development of this industry assistance is being granted by way of loan to enable one stone to be-econo-mically transported to the port or shipment. , The. expenditure under the heading of mining development during ia6t year was, £2,384, and a vote of £10,----000 is proposed to be taken this year. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The total expenditure on public buildings during the last financial year amounted to £596,562. I For the current year the following appropriations are proposed: — New buildings (Public £ Works Fund) 427,050 Maintenance-works (Consolidated Fund) 70,350 Maintenance-works, schools (Consolidated Fund) .. 102,150 Total £599,550 AGRICULTURE. On account of the conditions existing as a result of the war some works of importance, but not urgent, were held over. It has, however, been decided to provide additional accommodation for learners at both the Moumahaki and Weraroa Experimental Farms, to install a water-supply at Moumahaki, and to providfi additional buildings at the Moumahaki and Tauranga Experimental Farms, also to continue the land-drainage operations at Ruakura Farm of I»----struction. SCHOOL BUILDINGS. The exnenditure out of the Public Works Fund on school buildings during the year was £122.040. of which about £117,500 was paid in grants to Education Boards and other governing bodies for public schools, teachers' residences, training colleges, technical and secondary schools, and university colleges. Demands for school accommodation must necessarily be met without delay as they arise, and consequently there is always a large outstanding liability on this account which must be provided for in the estimates of the year. The total amount, of this liability fluctuates according; to. the time occupied in the prosecution of the various works authorised, and to meet this liability it is proposed to

vote £120,000 for the current year

WORKERS' DWELLINGS

The expenditure authorized last year, for some two* hundred dwellings, was £100,000. Of this amount £68,2 75 was paid during the year, and the balance of the expenditure appears In this year's accounts. In response to further applications the erection or an additional hundred dwellings has been decided upon, for which the estimated expenditure is £50,000.

DEVELOPMENT OF WATER-

POWER,

In November last the plant for the development at Lake Coleridge of electrical energy on a large scale -was formally opened, but It was not until March in this year that the continuous service started, since when it has been in full operation. The plant Has worked smoothly and efficiently, without serious interruption, and the country will learn with satisfaction that this important commercial venture on the part of the Government shows every promise of becoming a financial as well as an engineering success.

The rapid developments at ijaitc Coleridge have monopolized the efforts of the Government's Electrical Engineers during the past year; but now/ that this scheme has reachert a practical stage, attention will be directed to investigations to aecide tne best means of providing an adequate supply of electrical energy to serve the North Island.

Numerous water-power licenses have been granted during the year to local authorities wishing to develop local sources of power.

TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS

The expenditure under this heading amounted to £8,232, compared with £14,9.89 for the previous year. The sum of £2,971 was spent in completing and furnishing the new hostel at the Hermitage, where the Chief Guide's cottage was also completed, improvements at Helensville and to electrical works at Rotorua accounted for £720 and £570 respectively. Additions to the Rotorua Sanatorium cost £671, and improvements at Waitomo Caves £588. The expenditure on the proposed New Sanatorium at Hanmer and drainage-works at Rotorua was held over.

TELEGRAPH EXTENSION,

The expenditure on telegraph and telephone extension during the year amounted to £288,390. The proposed vote for the current year amounts to £327,000, made ujj as under:— ' < ■■:■- £ Automatic Installations 110,000 Submarine cables ... 1,000 New lines . . 30,000 New exchanges and connecting new subscribers 50,000 Material 13 6,000 .'Total;'. .......... £327,000 CONCLUSION. In conclusion, the ability to give effect to the proposals set forth in the Statement will depend on the response of the public to the loan proposals of the Minister of Finance. The great importance of developing the resources of the Dominion by constructing roads, bridges, and railways will certainly not be lost sight of, but it is necessary to emphasize the fact that some reduction in the rate of expenditure on such works must be expected under the very trying conditions consequent on the war.