1900. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT BY THE HON. W. HALL-JONES, MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS, 28th SEPTEMBER, 1900.

Mr. Speaker,— It is again my pleasing duty to report that satisfactory progress has been made with the various works in hand. Since my last Statement was delivered 8£ miles of railway have been opened for traffic and 56 miles of new work have been put in hand, making a total of 133 miles now under construction. Details of the work done on each line during the year will be given further on. With regard to the current year, if the opinions expressed by honourable members and by the large deputations that have waited upon Ministers, and also in the numerous petitions presented to the House and to the Government, are to be taken as a criterion, it may be assumed that there is a general desire that the prosecution of our public works, especially main trunk railways and roads to back blocks, shall be carried on more vigorously than has been the case since 1887. The Budget delivered by my right honourable colleague the Colonial Treasurer has outlined the financial proposals of the Government with respect to public works. While it is recognised that the progress of land-settlement and the great development of the resources of the colony that have taken place during the past few years require that greater progress shall be made both in railway-construc-tion and in road-formation, the Government are of opinion that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the colony to enter upon a large borrowing policy—a policy which woidd lead to a considerable influx of peripatetic labour. Careful administration, and a strict guard upon the public purse, bave removed every sign of depression; and this position must be maintained. The time, however, has arrived when the Government feel justified in carrying on more expeditiously the work of completing the main arterial lines now in hand —namely, the North Island Main Trunk, the Blenheim-Waipara, the Midland, and the Otago Central Railways. Numerous petitions have been presented to the House praying for the early completion of the North Island Main Trunk Bailway. Apart from its strategic value, the progress of settlement, the opening-up of large areas of valuable timber, and the necessity for railway communication between Auckland and Wellington, all point to the advisability of this great undertaking being completed within a reasonable time. To rush the work through regardless of cost would, I am confident, be a course which honourable members would not approve of. To do this would necessitate a large increase in expenditure, as it would be necessary to form roads to give access to the works at various points along the route, thus greatly adding to the cost. Prudence dictates that the proper course is to carry on the work vigorously at each end, and as soon as the formation is ready to at once lay the permanent-way, so that each mile when completed may be utilised. If this is done, there is nothing to prevent the rails being connected between Auckland and Wellington within four years. i—D. 1.