I

Session 11. 1906. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. BY THE HON. W. HALL-JONES, MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS, 19th OCTOBER, 1906.

Mb. Speaker,— I have the honour to present to honourable members my eleventh Public Works Statement, together with the estimates of the amounts required for the effective prosecution of works during the current year. Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather experienced and the scarcity of labour during the summer months, good progress has been made with the several works in hand. The more important undertakings I refer to in detail later on, but, with respect to railway-construction generally, I am pleased to say that we are nearing a time when the expenditure thereon can be concentrated upon the most urgent works, thus insuring greater expedition in completion than when a large number of works are under construction and the money available is limited. TOTAL EXPENDITURE. The expenditure during last financial year was considerably in excess of that of the previous year. The following table shows, as regards each class of work, (a) the total expenditure from the inauguration of the public-works policy to the 31st December, 1890 ; (b) the similar expenditure between the Ist January, 1891, and the 31st March, 1906; (c) the gross total expenditure to the 31st March, 1906 ; and (d) the expenditure for the late financial year :—

i-D. 1.

Expenditure. Class of Work. ABC Total to 1st January, Total to 31st December, 1891, to 31st 31st March, 1890. March, 1906. 1906. D Year ended 31st March, 1906. Railways— New construction ... Additions to open lines Utilisation of water-power Roads Public buildings Immigration Purchase of Native lands Lighthouses, harbour-works, and harbour defences Tourist and health resorts Telegraph-extension ... Development of goldflelds Defence-works (general) ... Departmental Payment to Midland Railway bondholders Minor works and services Cost and discount, raising loans, &c. £ 11,975,098 2,092,002 3,575,804 1,776,003 2,144,386 1,191,137 880,095 £ 4,529,174 3,220,305 3,370 3,614,452 1,575,533 18,842 833,285 133,058 £ ' 16,504,272 5,312,307 3,370 7,190,256 3,351,536 2,163,228 2,024,422 1,013,153 £ 661,360 351,044 2,902 351,204 165,312 8,753 13,777 4,946 600,849 561,101 429,720 349,789 71,248 609,327 205,860 425,000 183,667 150,000 19,768 227,831 71,248 1,210,176 766,961 854,720 533,456 150,000 320,457 1,249,303 15,888 77,186 18,533 35,569 13,517 300,689 1,021,472 '1,599 235 Totals ... Paeroa-Waihi Railway Account 26,898,145 15,820,720 75,000 42,718,865 75,000 1,721,825 8,862 Gross totals 26,898,145 15,895,720 42,793,865 1,730,687