PUBLIC WORKS.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18395, 31 July 1931, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS.

EXPENDITURE, £8,487,595. WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. •In -the Publio Statement presented in the House of Representatives tonight, the Minister of Finance said: — ‘‘lt has been the Government's polloy to restrict capital expenditure, as for as circumstances will permit, to works of a productive nature only. The unemployment position has created a special problem, however with the result that, while the principle of conceptrating on essential productive works is being adhered to as far as possible, in some cases works have been undertaken in advance of the normal developmental programme in order to provide additional remunerative forms of employment." The expenditure on publio works during the year, under the relative headings was as follows: — Railway construction, additions and Improvements 3,159,813 Main highways and roads 2,341,902 Hydro-electric supply . . 1,230,172 Publio buildings (including schools) 939,110 Telegraphs and telephones 434,615 Irrigation, land and river Improvements 252,585 Miscellaneous public works 129,398 Total £8,487,595 The railways expenditure consisted of £1,576,101 on construction, £526,515 on additions, and the balance of £1,057,197 on Improvements. In pursuance of the Government’s policy of reducing to a minimum all expenditure on railway-construction which Is not economically Justifiable at present, It was decided to close down several works as from January 1. Regarding the construction works still In hand, in the North Island the principal lines are the Stratford to Main Trunk and the Putorino to Wairoa sections, both of which are rapidly approaching completion, and In the South Island vwork Is proceeding In connection with the Main Trunk line between Wharanui and Parnassus, and also on the line between Westport and Inangahua to connect the Westport

section with the main southern system. The Railway Board is empowered to report on all works under construction, while no new works can be started until a resolution approving of any such work has been passed by both Houses. Highways and Hydro-electricity. Expenditure under the heading of “Highways and Roads" comprises £757,906 on main highways and £1,583,996 on roads. Compared with the previous year, the latter amount represents an Increase of £392,927 in expenditure on ordinary settlement and backblock roads, as a result of the necessity of finding useful work for many of the unemployed. ißieguDdlng lexpenditure on hydroelectricity I may explain that the various schemes earned a gross revenue for the year of £685,242, and after Charging all expenses, including depreciation and interest, the accounts disclosed a loss over all schemes of £2043. Had It not been for the stoppage at Arapunl, and the consequent necessity for purchasing supplies of electricity from 'local authorities, a profit- would undoubtedly have resulted from the year’s operations. Publio Buildings. The expenditure on publio buildings Includes school-buildings, post and telegraph offloes, and hospitals. In future the capital cost of schoolbuildings will be met out of the Publio Buildings vote under the Public Works Fund, as obtained several years ago.

The balance of the expenditure on public works was Incurred in respect of irrigation, land and river Improvements, etc. ~