PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17697, 24 October 1919, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT

LAST NIGHT.

£1,000,000 FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES ALONE.

The Hon. Sir William Fraser, Minister of Public Works, presented the Public Works Statement in the House of Representatives last night.

The Statement, in opening, regrets that the scarcity of labour was as apparent during last financial year as it was during the previous one. It is true that as the soldiers returned to New Zealand a slight improvement in numbers of men available for my work was manifest, but that was only during February and March. Since April, however, a marked change has taken place, but the number employed is still fully fifteen, hundred below the pre-war mark. The truth is that the manhood of the Dominion, including also the returned soldiers, has very slightly increased in numbers since the war began, as the lads who have passed into manhood do not much outnumber those who have been killed or maimed. It is owing to this fact that only £522,092 has been expended on railways, roads, and bridges out of £976,055 provided on the estimates. The Minister expresses the hope, however, that the results of the operations during the current financial year will show a marked improvement. A considerable amount of machinery has been ordered, and some has actually come to hand.

HYDROELECTRIC SCHEMES

The results from the Lake Coleridge undertaking continue to be increasingly remunerative. The\ net revenue for the year ended the 31st March last exceeded the cost of working the scheme by £20,186. The interest on the capital sunk in the undertaking amounted to £15,692, leaving a balance towards depreciation account of £4,494. The result for the six months ended the 30th September, 1919, is that the revenue exceeded the estimate for that period by £2864, and the expenditure fell short of the estimate by £645, showing a net gain beyond the estimate of £3509. If the returns for the second six months are on the same scale, then on the 31st March, 1920, there will have been received as net revenue more than sufficient to defray both interest and depreciation charges—viz., 6 per cent, on total capital cost.

After detailing the work already carried out in connection with the Arapuni, Mangahao, Horahora, and Wailtaremoana schemes, the Minister states that statutory provision for the full cost of establishing these works will be made this session.

He adds: In view, however, of the difficulty in procuring labour, it would be manifestly improper to pretend that such large new schemes as Waikaremoana and whatever may be decided on for the South Island could be undertaken at present.

WAYS AND MEANS.

On the Ist April, 1918, the available ways and means for public works purposes were 295,540 Additional funds were received as follows: — Under Finance Act, 1917, section 77 .. .. .. 725,000 Under Finance Act, 1918, (No. 2), section 29 .. .. 360,000 Other receipts and recoveries ~.......,.,...,,... ... 13,141 Making a gross total of £1,393,681 The net expenditure on all works and services charageable against the Public Works Fund for the year 1918-19 i amounted to ■..,. ♦.. ... £1,207,482 £ This left a credit balance in the Ways and Means Account at 31st March, 1919, of ~ 186,199 Authority exists for providing fur-1 ther funds:-— i lln terms of the Finance | Act, 1918 (No. 2), to the extent of ~ 2,140,000 £ Making a total of .. £2,326,199 In addition it is proposed to ask for authority to provide a further .... 750,000 Thus making available for expenditure during the current financial year ending 31st March, 1920, a sum of .... £3,076,199 The. estimated expenditure on public for the current year (ex-i elusive of accounts which have their j own ways and means) is £2,986,257, j leaving an estimated credit balance of £89,942 to be carried forward to next year (1920-21). In addition to the amounts above | described statutory authority exists j for raising the balances under the following accounts, viz:— Aid to Water-power Works Act, 1910 50.000 Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Act, 1910 50,000 j 101,000 Statutory authority is beI ing asked for the hydroi electric development of Mangahao and Arapuni schemes, and further extensions of Lake Coleridge; also for the purchase of Horahora, the tension thereof, and the erection of transmissionlines, amounting in all to 6,830,000 £6,931,000 PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

The Statement gives details of the past year's operations in regard to

all classes of public buildings, t]tu most interesting reference being t< EDUCATION BUILDINGS: The effect of the proposals undei this head will be that, in addition to the £500,000 for the present yeal and £750,000 for each of the foul successive years provision fbi which is made by the Education Purposes Loans Act), a further sum of £450,000 will be provided out ol ordinary Loan Account to discharge past liabilities already incurred, and that, of the latter sum of £450,000, £250,000 is proposed to be voted in the present year, and £200,000, to. gether with any unexpended balance of the £250,000, to be voted in thfl next financial year. The moneys at* thorised by the special Act will b< thus rendered available for future commitments only, without anj. charge thereon for past expenditure and commitments. WORKERS' DWELLINGS. There was an expenditure of £7293 in connection with dwellings in the course of erection and other works, During the current year it is anticipated that £150,000 will be required. DEPARTMENTAL. The total permanent staff at 31st March was 624. The number (apart from temporary workmen) who joined the Expeditionary Forces was 202, three of whom gained the Distinguished Service Order, six the Military Cross, two the Distinguish-ed-conduct Medal, one the Military Medal, and six gained other distinctions. The casualties were —killed in action, 9; died of wounds, 10; died of sickness, 2; missing, 1; ac^ cidentally killed, 1; wounded, 64 j gassed, 1; making a total of killed and wounded, 88. CONCLUSION. The Statement concludes:—~ Let me say, in conclusion, thai realising the very natural anxiety on the part of each section of settlers now that the war is over to have ita respective roads of access and maip roads completed and metalled I have placed on my estimates sums exceeding £1,000,000 for roads and bridges alone. To have attempted to comply with all requests would Jj£ve ne cessitated providing over £2.000, OOoj which would have been absurd for. one year's operations. I have been careful to inquire aa to the roads leading to and through returned soldiers' settlements, and have endeavoured in every case to make provision for same.