PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8910, 9 November 1907, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

(Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, This Day.

I iippeud some extracts of interest from tho statement delivered last night.

DEMAND FOR NEW RAILWAYS

Numerous requests had been made daring the present session for new works to be started, or for works already in baud to bo proceeded with at an accelorated speed, but in view of the largo disbursements, the Government bad been compelled to adopt a cautious policy. The expenditure on the North Island Main Trunk Railway alone during last year (including the value of the permanent way materials issued to the line) amounted to over £400,000, and for tho curront year a vote of £330,000 is proposed. Next year will see the completion of this great work, and this very largo expenditure will then cense, and tho money be available for other purposes. Since tho last Public Works Statement was brought down fifty miles of railway have been completed and opoueclfor traffic, and the rails are laid aud the ballast trains running on an additional eighty miles.

UTILISATION OF WATER-POWER

In the last two or three • Public Works Statements considerable attention has been devoted to this matter, aud some" valuable reports by the late Eugineer-i.u-Chief and others have been presented to Parliament. The importance of the proposals outlined in these reports is undoubted, as is also the practicability of the majority of the schemes outlined. Whether they would all be remunerative is, however, more open to question, though I think that there is not much doubt that some of them would be payable from tho start. All of the schemes unfortunately, involve very considerable expenditure, the total of the proposals running into several millions. The Government considers that the time for embarking on these undertakings, which would amount to almost to a fresh public works policy, has, perhaps, hardly yet arrived. As soon, however, as the expenditure on the North Island Main Trunk railway ceases, and the demands on the Public Works Fund generally are less pressing, it would doubtless be advantageous to take action in the matter of developing one or more of the most promising of the schemes outlined. In the meantime it is proposed- to lease some of the water-power available for actual use by private enterprise.

An amount of £4G64 was expended out of last year's vote; for the current year £2000 proposed.

IRRIGATION,

Ou the estimates provisiou is made for a vote of £3000 (ou account of £100.000 proposed to be provided for purpose) for irrigation and water-sup-ply in agricultural and mining districts. The vote is primarily for the purpose of assisting in opening up aud developing fresh lands for settlement in arid teritory. The appropriation is included in the "Lauds Improvement" class, aud the work will be under tho control of the Minister of Lauds. Some preliminary work, in the shape of explorations and surveys, has already been done, but during the approaching summer season it is hoped to proceed with actual construction operations. WELLINGTON-MANAWATU RAILWAY. As the North Island Main Trunk line is expected to be completed by the end of the next year, it is desirable that the question of the purchase of the Wellingfcon-Manawatu railway should again receive attention, as, if it is decided to purchase in terms of the Railways Construction and Land Act, 1881, it will be necessary to give twelve months' notice to the company. Such notice should, therefore, be given at au early date if it is to mature before the Main Trunk line is finished.

Having given the matter very careful consideration, the Government has decided to at once give notice to the company of its intention to take over the railway iv twelve months' time.