D.—l

VIII

authority or association of local authorities which desires to have the benefit of its knowledge. The far-reaching effect of the new finances provided by the Motorspirits Taxation Act is just beginning to make itself felt, and during the coming paving season extensive works in high-class paving will be in progress around a great many of the main centres of population, and, in addition the County Councils and smaller boroughs will be ablej.o improve their maintenance and at the same time lessen the actual expenditure from their own funds. EXPENDITURE. The total net expenditure under all votes and accounts appearing on the public-works estimates for the financial year ended 31st March, 1928, was £7,061,201. Of this sum £3,200,664 was expended out of General Purposes Account, and the balance, £3,860,537, 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 : —

Expert™ TqU1 Class of Work, ended Expenditure to 31st March, 31a n aroh ' 1928. Railways — £ £ New construction .. .. .. .. .. .. 908,669 35,166,168 Additions to open lines .. .. .. .. .. .. 233,153 15,790,234 Payment to Midland Railway bondholders .. .. .. .. 150,000 Roads .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 705,805 16,966,026* Public buildings .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 223,540 10,136,524 Immigration .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 67,157 _ 3,184,565 Purchase of Native lands .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,061,148 Lighthouses, harbour-works, and harbour defences .. .. .. 23,870 1,249,214 Tourist and health resorts .. .. .. .. .. 36,673 460,766 Telegraph extension .. .. .. .. .. .. 625,540 9,291,948 Development of mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 881,845 Defence works (general) .. .. .. .. .. .. 39,986 1,280,916 Departmental .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 130,951 2,490,564 Irrigation and water-supply .. .. .. .. .. 49,735 781,282 Lands-improvement .. .. .. .. .. .. 72,898 426,607 Minor works and services .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 312,607 Plant, material, and stores .. .. .. .. ..Or. 1,288 348,219 Quarries (acquisition and operating) .. .. .. Cr. 9,325 11,143 Timber-supply and sawmills for Public Works Department .. .. Cr. 6,997 5,689 Motor-transport services .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33,635 Cost and discount, raising loans, &c. .. .. .. .. 100,297 2,596,622 Total General Purposes Account .. .. .. .. 3,200,664} 103,625,722 Aid to Water-power Works and Electric Supply Account .. .. 1,389,341} 7,235,205 Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Account .. .. 59,644} 607,989 Total Public Works Fund .. .. .. .. .. 4,649,649 111,468,916 Wellington-Hutt Railway, &c. — 1 Railway .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 228,374 Road .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 101,658 Railways Improvement Account .. .. ... .. .. . 641,275 Railways Improvement Authorization Act, 1914 Account .. .. 1,488,739§ 4,458,793 Loans to Local Bodies Account —Roads to open up 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 .. 6,337 590,025 National Endowment Account .. .. .. .. .. .. 53,401 Education Loans Account.. .. .. .. .. .. 368,479§ 3,371,426 Main Highways Account Construction Fund .. .. .. .. 547,997§ 1,745,436 7,061,201 123,563,338 * Includes £4,500 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. J Excludes interest during construction. § Includes proportionate cost of loan raised under theso accounts,