PUBLIC WORKS EXPENDITURE

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1759, 26 May 1913, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS EXPENDITURE

4 The statement of receipts and expenditure of the Public Works Fund for the past financial year is of par-

ticular interest just now in view of the attacks which have been made upon the Government on the ground that they have unreasonably curtailed public works expenditure. An attempt has been made to crcatc the impression that the Government were pursuing a niggardly policy detrimental to the interests of the country and in marked contrast to the generous open-bandedness of the Continuous Ministry.,. We referred to this matter a few days ago and pointed out that .the fact the Government had insisted on exercising a proper caution in administering the State funds did not necessarily mean

that it was not progressing as vigorously as circumstanccs would permit with those undertakings t<: which the country: was committed, The official accounts for the year.

now available, not only confirm uur view of the position, but contradict in most downright fashion. those critics who have been lamenting the

alleged falling-off in developmental expenditure. The simplest method of exposing the erroneous views: of our anti-Reform friends is to give the figures as set out in the audited accounts for the financial years 191112 and 1912-13.' Omitting shillings and pence they are as under:

Public Works Fund Expenditure. 1912. 1913 <£ <£ Departmental 19,8G3 SG.9SG Railways ; • 1,125,905 • 1,118,632 Public Buildings 319,001 -115,112 Lighthouses, Harbour Works, Harbour Defences 12,575 IG,< 85 Tourist and Health Resorts 13,3G0 12,90j Immigration 11,G80 11,45(3 Construction, Maintenance and supervision roads, bridges, and other works 121,578 371,375 Development of goldfields 21,211 10,643 Telegraph extension ... 117,692 251,371 Contingent defence ... 10.13G 23,790 Lands Department .... 19,211 22,550 Development of water power 3,032 — Irrigation of water supply 2,793 —

Totals 2,200,714 2,378,539 These figures show plainly enough that public works expenditure has been well maintained during the year, despite the fact that when the Massey Government came into office the position of the Public Works Fund necessitated the exercisc of great caution until the fate of the million and three-quarter loan, which Mn. Allen went to London to raise, had been ascertained. The state of the Public Works Fund at the. close of the year was much more satisfactory than at the beginning, but this does not mean that there will be any opportunity for lavish expenditure during the current year. While the balance brought forward is fairly large, £026,741 as against £52,580 last year, some £250,000 of this will be required for the redemption of debentures. Moreover, the amount available for transfer from the Consolidated Fund is' less this year. The Government cannot lwpe, without indulging in a heavy borrowing policy, to accelerate the existing" rate of expenditure on public works, but Ministers should be in a better position this year than last to ensure that the money available shall be spent to better advantage than has been the case in rcccnt times.

Tho remarkable usefulness of wireless telegraphy in communicating with ships at sea has just been once more demonstrated (states the "Otago Daily Times'"), and the illustration is of local interest. A few days ago tho pilot staff at the Heads noticed a steamer belonging to the Union Steam Ship Company many miles away, heading for the harbour, but while the see. near the slioro was free from fog, a dense mass of watery vapour lay athwart the track of the incoming vessel. The men at tho Heads saw tho

steamer approach the fog bank, and (hen Mop. The captain evidently thought that the fog extended right up to the Heads, and was disinclined to feel his way in under the circumstances. A little whilo later, however, the harbour officials at the Heads received a telephonic communication from the company's office at Dnnediu asking if the boat, in question had come under their observation. Tho olliee was informed that she was lying out off the fog bank, but that inshore the weather was quite clear. The wireless installation 011 one of the steamers at tho Dunedin wharf was at once 111-ought into service, the steamer outside "called up," and her captain informed that she could with safety steam through the vapoury obstruction. The V (. s a(,l"was . c -oon swallowed up in the fog, to reappear shortly after 011 its inshore side, and continued her journey safely to port.

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