D.—l

IV

required and is not produced by hydraulic agency it can be produced in some other way, and the industry for which the power is required can still go on ; but in the case of irrigation works, if the water is not supplied, nothing can take its place, and land which might carry from three to five sheep to the acre must remain, tussocky waste, carrying less than one-tenth part of the stock ; and crops which can be grown most luxuriantly with water cannot be raised at all without it. For every acre irrigated the State as a whole gains in many ways. Although the total number of sheep in the dry counties surrounding the irrigated area decreased between 1914 and 1922 the numbers carried by the irrigated area actually doubled, the increase being progressive and keeping pace with the increasing sale of water. The increase in irrigation receipts ever since irrigation water was first made available has been sustained, and this year I am glad to say that there has been a substantial surplus of receipts over working-expenses and maintenance costs. But more has yet to be earned—and it can be earned —to recoup the State for its expenditure. EXPENDITURE. The total net expenditure under all votes and accounts appearing on the public-works estimates for the financial year ended 31st March, 1922, was £6,922,039. Of this sum £5,280,087 was expended out of the Public Works Fund, and the balance, £1,035,352, out of accounts which have their own ways and means and are quite separate from the Public Works Fund. A brief summary of this expenditure, as well as the total expenditure since the inception of the public-works policy to the 31st March last, is shown below in tabular form :—

Expem liture. Class of Work. Expenditure for Year ended 31st March, 1922. Total Expenditure to 31st March, 1922. Railways— New construction Additions to open lines Roads ... Public buildings ... Immigration Purchase of Native lands ... Lighthouses, harbour-works, and harbour-defences Tourist and health resorts... Telegraph extension Development of mining Defence-works (general) ... Departmental Electric-power supply and development Irrigation and water-supply Payment to Midland Railway bondholders ... Lands-improvement Minor works and services ... Plant, material, and stores Timber-supply and sawmills for Public Works Department Cost and discount, raising loans, Ajc. £ 1,276,820 1,856,380 564,159 344,739 ' 247,528 £ 28,466,020 12,269,621 13,111,960 8,635,603 2,507,271 2,061,739 1,175,553 304,181 5,000,427 885,805 1,086,052 1,817,407 18,774 17,996 590,981 2,130 15,586 128,002 600 82,713 17,478 332,892 150,000 157,846 312,607 435,638 16,369 1,427,538 106,432 16,369 174,280 Wellington-Hutt Railway and Road Improvement | Railway Account ( Road ... Railways Improvement Account Railways Improvement Authorization Act 1914 Account Loans to Local Bodies Account—Roads to open up Crown lands Opening up Crown Lands for Settlement Account —Roads to open up Crown lands Land for Settlements Account —Roads to open up Crown lands National Endowment Account—Roads to open up endowment lands Aid to Water-power Works and Electric Supply Account Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Account... Education Loans Account... 5,460,967 80,154,529 228,374 101,658 641,275 814,379 697,408 206,626 141,860* 51,471 403,113 53,401 834,060 54,379 563,201 1,638,007 243,453 777,772 Totals 7,105,938 85,959,99£ * Includes proportionate cost of loan raised under t [is account.