PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 627, 18 July 1882, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

The following are further extracts from the.above statement :-— Large as is the share of the three million loan dedicated to works other than r*iil\yays, it is less than has been the rule since the commencement of our Public Works policy in 1870, even thougli for conic years after ila commencement, the •amount expended on public buildings was very sma'l. Since 1870 the increase of public debt, and the contributions in aid of Public Works funds Amount to over £19.000,000, only £9 869.000 of which iias been spent upon railways. The share of tho three million loan to he allocated io ■each branch of expenditure other than railway construction, has been carefully considered and limited, and in each case to as small a sum as possible.. My Hon colleague, the Native Minister, hopes that with £100,000 in addition to tne £100,000 which the Treasurer informed the House would be wanted, he will be able to close hie transactions in Native lands. For public buildings the amount set aside is very small in comparison with the recent rate of expenditure. For example, last session the House voted for public buildings £194,106, and the amount spent within the year was £128,356, with outRlanding liabilities of £84,457. The Government has come to the conclusion that it will be unwise for us to continue to spend annually such a large portion of our borrowed money upon public build-

ings, and will, therefore, next yotir make other provision from the consolidated revenue for a considerable part of them. reasonably expect that not more than the £:JOO,OOO asked for will be required from loßn. The immigration po-, posed is solely a nominated immigiAion except for single women. It is believe.i the amount devoted to it is sufficient, although I am glad to say, as evidence that 'he colonists who Imve come to New Zealand have prospered here, that the Minis-'er for Immigration bai- in hand at the pre.-ent moment move than 5000 nominations of persons whom their f-'iends in the Colony desire lob-ing out, and ■there is no doubt lhat when tne Government advertises throughout the Colony that they are prepared io receive nominations this number will be largely increased. I need not say that the expenditure upon immigration is exceedingly profit able. We have spent upon it altogether, since 1870, rather less limn £2,000,000, or incut red an annual cha-ge of about £100,000, and have introduced in all 101,214 persons. Since 1870, our population has increased fiom 248.400 to 504,900. whilst our revenue, exclusive of revenue derived from iai'wavs and Crown landsi has increase- ' from £9--5,000 to £2.414,000, a sure indication that Ihe intioduction'of this laige body of immigrants, besides being very advantageous and profitable, has enabled the immigrants themselves to ailain to a condition of comparative comfort in their new borne. Generally, it will be Ihe effort of the Government fo make to a much greater extent than has bithevlo been the case, all further Joans, loans for railway conslruci tion. There can be no doubt of the enormous benefits which have accrued <o tho Colony from its railways. As against | the difference of a little over 1 per cent between their net earnings and the interest upon the cost of construction, tho colonists have gained a cheap, safe, and rapid Inul- , age of goods, reaching list year to 1,437,714 tons, besides facilitating the travelling of passengers, increasing to 2.911,477. Duiing the same period tho annual saving to the people Urns obtained must of itself amount to a considerable part of the whole expenditure upon railways. In addition, the value of property served by Ihe railway system has greatly increased. Moreover Ihe burden of the maintenance of a long length of roadway, must be very much lessened by the relief afforded by ihe diversion of the traffic to the railways. The Colony has also gained by the promotion of settlement, and by the greatly increased prices obtained in some cases for Crown lanils, as, for instance, on the Waimate Plains. I may be permitted to express my regret tint the State did not, from the commencement of the Public Works policy, take possession, at their then value, of considerable -Teas of land in suitab'e localities in the virinPy of the proposed railway lines, 'n order to cut them iin or sell them in small homesteads, This course would not merely have largely diminished the cost of railways, nut would have added to their earnings, and the direct and indirect taxation which this additional porw'a.ion wou'd have contributed to the Treasury might have innr/e it possible 'o allocate to some extent l:ixa*ion gf-*nr*ni!'y. It is, therefore, I 'alinoNt.si'perfln'HH for mo to add, in conclusion, that the Gove- nmerit in thoroughly convinced'of >he advisability of completing o.ir ryii way system; Unit it is an essential p*n*t of impolicy to complete the 'construction ns rapidly as possible of the Main Trunk lines in both Islands, and of ! desirable branch lines as soon as circumstances will permit ; and, that it will gladly see private enterprise supplement the work urtdei taken by the Colony, by taking advantage of the Railways Construction Act of last year and of fhe District Railways Act. With this policy the Colony will continue to make the pro gress and enjoy the prosperity which wo now happily experience, and if the policy is carried out with prudence there is no reason to doubt that the prosperity will be enduring.