£>.—1

IV

The Main Highways Board has been subjected in a few instancesjto rlocal pressure directed |to enforcing the carrying-oufc of grade easements and other improvements, which are perhaps just a little premature in the present state of development of New Zealand. It is important that the funds available, which are by no means in excess of bare requirements, should be conserved and devoted rather to the elimination of dangers and the improvement of surface than to the obtaining of ideal grades. The economics of all projects put forward are carefully looked into, and while perhaps to the passerby some of the deviations or improvements in hand may appeal- extravagant, an investigation of the pros and cons will show that they have all a solid justification when upkeep and running expenses are considered as well as capital. EXPENDITURE. The total net expenditure under all votes and accounts appearing on the public-works estimates for the financial year ended 31st March, 1927, was £6,777,474. Of this sum £8,588,059 was expended out of General Purposes Account, and the balance, £3,189,415, out of special accounts. 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, follows in tabular form : —

Expenditure j „ for Year 1 „ i °?" 1 . Class of Work. ended ! oPT™ t 31st March, 81rt -*£ roh ' 1927. 1J2 '" Railways — £ £ New construction .. .. .. .. .. 1,096.368 34,259,198 Additions to open lines .. .. .. .. .. .. 384,439 15,557,081 Payment to Midland Railway bondholders .. .. .. .. 150,000 Roads .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 578,128 16,261,228* Public buildings .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 326,039 9,920,287 Immigration .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 184,918 3,117,408 Purchase of Native lands .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,061,204 Lighthouses, harbour-works, and harbour defences .. .. .. 19,021 1,225,509 Tourist and health resorts .. .. .. .. .. 1 31,981 424,609 Telegraph extension .. .. .. .. .. .. 558,042 8,666,408 Development of mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 882,975 Defence works (general) .. .. .. .. .. .. 34,014 1,241,395 Departmental .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 115,866 2,372,941 Irrigation and water-supply .. .. .. .. .. 56,937 734,345 Lands-improvement .. .. .. .. .. .. 56,267 356,283 Minor works and services .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 312, 607 Plant, material, and stores .. .. .. .. Cr. 24,148 358,492 Quarries (acquisition and operating) .. .. .. .. 6,302 20,468 Timber-supply and sawmills for Public Works Department .. .. 8,512 12,686 Motor-transport services .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33,635 Cost and discount, raising loans, &c. .. .. .. .. 155,373 2,496,325 Total General Purposes Account .. .. .. .. 3,588,059"]" 100,465,084 Aid to Water-power Works and Electric Supply Account .. .. 1,130,013j 5,845,927 Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Account.. .. .. 65,856j 548,345 Total Public Works Fund .. .. .. .. .. 4,783,928 106,859,356 Wellington-Hutt Railway, &c. — Railway .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 228,374 Road .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 101,658 Railways Improvement Account .. .. .. .. .. .. 641,275 Railways Improvement Authorization Act 1914 Account .. .. 880,229§ 2,970,054 Loans to Local Bodies Account —Roads to open Tip Crown lands .. .. 697,408 Opening up Crown Lands for Settlement Account —Roads to open up .. 206,626 Crown lands Lands for Settlement Account —Roads to open up Crown lands .. 12,714 583,688 National Endowment Account .. .. .. .. .. .. 53,401 Education Loans Account.. .. .. .. .. .. 550,954§ 3,002,947 Main Highways Account Construction Fund .. .. .. 549,649§ 1,197,-448 ' 6,777,474 116,542,235 * Includes £1,500 expended under section 10, subsection (1), Native Land Amendment and Native Claims Adjustment Act, 1923. f Does not include expenditure under the Ellesmere Land Drainage Act, 1905. t Excludes interest during construction. § Includes proportionate cost of loan raised. under these accounts.