LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 806, 2 May 1910, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

RAILWAYS EXPENDITURE. NORTH AND SOUTH. Sir, —The following statement was presented to Parliament by tho Hon. Roderick M'Kenzie (Minister for Public Works) on December 23, 1009. See Hansard, No. 23, page 15*14 (December 22 to 29, 1909) "Statement showing expenditure on railway construction each year,, from tho Ist April, 1890, to tho 31st March, 1909, in North and South Islands respectively i North Island. South Island. Year ending. Amount. Amount. March 31. .£ £ 1691 102,891 75,00S 1892 GG.IOO sS,6(i(> IMB • 159,680 75,(157 1594 95,38-2 72,029 1595 121,512 0-1,201 IS9S 83,523 G8,761 1597 B*l, SO6 52,219 1598 113,751 57,649 1899 103,592 108,380 1900 G5.G03 136,730 1901 191,183 168,222 1902 • 301,853 261,500 1903 199,812 155,037 . 1901 • 271,919 . 222,609 1915 252,518 189,341 1908 314,831 291,119 1907 560,760 346,849 . 1908 *155,051 268,960 1909 352,756 376,098 ' Totals .£3,058,091

"Note.—Payment to Midland railway debenture-holders, £150,000, not included in South Island figures. "That return proved conclusively that tho assertions of tho honourable members who had so strenuously contended that tho South Island railways were being pushed oil, at tho exponse of the North had no foundation in fact. The position was reversed, and nearly £1,000,000 more had been spent on railway construction in tho North Island by the Liberal party." Tho following is the statements as presented to Parliament by the various Ministers for Railways named in the fourth column: — Premier ■ Minister or ■ North South, ai. tho , Controllers Jr. Island. Island, time. of Railway.,. 1891 217,50<1 62.9G1 Atkinson Commissioners 1892 . ■*65.-385 69,075 Ballancc Commissioners 1893 163,767 84,982 Ballanee Commissioners 1894 99,759 75,842 Ballanee Commissioners 1895 147,494 53,040 Seddon Oadmail 1896 97,801 88,396 Seddon Cadman 1897 114,987 91,129 Seddon Cadman 1898 228,181 108,834 .Seddon ' Cadman ' 1899 106,024 212.898 Seddon Cadman 1900 230,904 132,401 Seddon Ward ' 1901 324,451 361,334 Seddon Ward 1902 601,790 664,706 Seddon Ward 1903 472,047 2«,335 Seddon Ward 1904 424,2041,532,081 Seddon Ward 1905 414,760 416,724 Seddon Wii.-d 1906 529,477 558,904 Seddon Ward . 1907 736,289 610,194 Ward Httll-Joneo 1908 777,430 519,142 Ward Hall-Jones 1909 1,662,612 655,129 Ward Millar £7,255,966 £6,473,757 It'Kcnzic's statement ... £3,903,916 £3,058,091 Difference £3,352,050 £3,415,666 M'Kenzie's total for 19 years £4,965,007 Kailway statements total £13,729,723 Difference £6,767.716 TVhen considering . this/ table, tho point to which tho reader's, attention is particularly directed .is this: . They are both Government statements made by responsible) Crown Ministers holding two of tho most important portfolios in tho Cabinet, and. there is over £6,767,000 difference between them during tho nineteen years dealt with. They oannot be both correct. Which are wo to believe? Can we have confidence in either ? , Let me"'ask' 1 particular attention to the return'Tof' 1904, which is as follow: . - North ■ South. Island. Island. V ' - —A'.',: £ Sir Joseph. Ward's-. statement ......... 426,20 i 1,532,031 Horn R. M'Konzio's ■; statement ....;. 274,949 222,609 Difference 101,255 1,309,472 Thus wo see that Sir Joseph Ward, Minister for Public Works, tells us that in one year his Premier charged to fclio Railways account nearly a million and a half (£1,460,721, to ho exact) over and above the actual amount expended. Mr. M'Kenzie, iu a 'return published in 'Hansard, and giving details for each year,, distinctly says that this vast amount was not spent on our railways. Where, then, was it. spent? If this has been done in ignorance, can wo liavo any confidence in a Cabinet containing such badly qualified men? — I am, etc., SAMUEL VAILE. Auckland, April 29, 1910. .