PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2827, 19 July 1916, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

STILL NEED FOR ECONOMY EVERYTHING MUST GIVE WAY TO THE WAR ROADS AND BRIDGES PROBLEM

The annual Public Works Statement was presented to the Houso of Representatives last night by tho Minister (the Hon. W. Fr.aser). Following is an abridgment of the Statement:—

When the Public Works Statement of 1915-16 was being discussed by the House, I made it quite clear that I had no intention. of expending during that financial year tho whole of tho moneys which I was asking Parliament to entrust to me. On the contrary, I expressed my determination to endeavour to distribute the expenditure of these moneys over a period of two years instead of over one year. That 1 have succeeded in this endeavour is proved by the. fact that after expending (inclusive of the cost of raising loan) .£2,314,944 out of the Public Works Fund, I had still to tho credit of that fund on March 31, 1916, the sum of JCl,S3S,2ol—viz., cash, .£1,293,101, and balance of authorised loan-money still to bo raised, .£545,100. I feel confident that I am expressing the opinion of tho whole community that this sum should suffice for the needs of the current year as far as public works are concerncd, and the estimates aro framed on that basis. To ensure this result the estimates for roads ■and bridges for ISI6-17 will consist only of the unexpended votes on tho estimates for 1915-16. To prevent misapprehension, let ine here stato that the Public Works Loan of .£1.000,000 authorised under tho Finance Bill, now before the House, is not intended to provido any further money for roads, bridges, railways, etc., during tho current year; but some portion of it will be available, if necessary, to continuo expenditure on such works from March 31, 1917, until Parliament meets again, by which timo wo all hope and trust that peace will have been proclaimed. The provision I am making for roads and bridges is only about .£4500 less than what I oxpended last year, but the provision for railway expenditure has had in consequence to be reduced by .£200,000.

Owing to the foregoing reasons, I liarebeon unablo to mako any provision on tlio estimates for applications for new grants for roads and bridges. I propose, however, to partially overcome this difficulty in tho following manner: 1 am Inking power in the Appropriations Act to transfer the sums now allocated on year's estimates for such toads and bridges whic.il a local body may deem of minor importanco to other more urgently needed works which do not appear on the said estimates, but avo situated in (ho same county; thus in reality providing money for new works. This will, I feel confident, help to meot tlic views of many local bodies. The following table shows the brief particulars of tlio expenditure of tho year, and also the total under each class of work from tlio inauguration of tho public works up to March 31 last:— Expenditure. •5 - *. ■ Class of Work. 5«« • ~ .'ci % § £9 " M ous 9 3 _T ' ri3?. Hallways— X J! New construction ... 662,'J19 21,845,!)1)7 Additions to opendincs '102,252 'J,251),993 Roads 421,191 11,010,253 Public buildings 335,771 6,621,550 Immigration 10,010 2,331,739 Purchase ofTSative lands . — 2,002,831. Lighthouses, harbour works, and harbour defences ■, 13,073 1,136,308 Tourist and health re-' sorts 5,107 257,415 Telegraph extension ... 219,554 3,207,722 Development of mining 6,602 891,422 Defenco works (general 37,019 1,027,235 Departmental ' 111,189 1,002,953 Development of water power •- 15,451 Irrigation and water supply — 4,350 Payment to Midland Railway bondholders. — 150,000 Lands improvement .... 5,93(1 140,501 dlinor works and services •- 312,607 Plant, material, and stores 74,418 71,118 (Cost; and discount, rais- ) ing loans, etc. 5,037 . 1,253,037 3,314,941 05,695,098 Wellington-Unit Railway and Road .Improvement AccountRailway — 228,371 Road 112 101,058 Railways Improvement Account Cr. 4. 64.1,273 Ra i 1 ways Imp rOTcmen t, Authorisation Act, 1914, Account 139,754 139,751 Loans to Local Bodies Account—roads to open up Crown lauds — 697,408 Opening up Clown Lands for Settlement Account—roads to open' lip Crown lands — 200,626 Land for Settlements Account—roads to open up Crown lands 17,971 110,919 National Kndowment Account—roads to open un endowment lands ." 13,311 40,611 Aid to Water-power Work's Account *55,410 307,538 Irrigation and Watersupply Account 29,874 110,255 Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Account 9,225 421185 Totals 2,6i0,0G3 68,355,334 'Including J!1, cost of raising loan. Ways and Means. •£ On April 1, 1915, tho available ways aiid means for publicworks purposes wcro 695,762 And further funds wero received as under Under the Aid to Public Works i and Land Settlement Act, 1911 ' 929,900 Under the Finance Act of 1915 2,000,000 Under the Finance Act, to cover oxpenses of raising 5,030 Otlier receipts and recoveries .. 7,353

Making a gross total of ... -£3,635,015 The ordinary expenditure of tho year amounted to £2,339,907, filus tho expenses of raising oans J!5037, thus bring the frta! disbursements up .to £2,ZU,Sii This leaves a balance to the credit of tho Ways and Means Account at the end of tho year of 1,293,101 For the current year it is proposed to provide additional funds as under:— Balanco of authorised loan money still to be raised ,145,100 Malting the total ways and means for 1916-17 ...: 451,838,201 The estimated expenditure for public works for the current year (excluding separate accounts "having their own ways and means) amounts to iil ,838,000, leaving an estimated balauco of i2Ol to be carried forward to next year (1917-18). In addition to the amounts described above, we have authority to raise, outside t£: "Public Works Fund, the folinwingsums:— .■c Under the Aid to Water Power Act, 1910 191,000 Tindcr the'Waihou and Ohinenuiri Rivers Improvement Act, 1010 50,000

Railway Construction Only two lengths of railway—ono in caci Isiand—were actually handed over and opclied for regular traffic during the financial year, which closed on March 31 last. Tho opened sections were:— Huntly to Awaroa, 7 miles 20 chains, December 20, 1915; Ward to Wharanui, 7 miles To chains, December 4, 1915; total, 15 miles 16 chains. Severul sections are, however, ilmost complete as far as' construction is concerned, but remain, in tho hands of the Public Works Department in <;rder to avoid the interference with construction work which occurs when such has to bo cirrltid 011 over a section whioh has been handed over to the Railway Department. Meanwhile traffic is being woi%ed by the Public Works Department as required These sections aro as follow:— Otamatea to Huarau, 6 miles 20 chairing Mount Maungan'ui to Pongafcawa, 23 miles 10 chains; Whangamomona tu Kohuratahi, 4 miles 54 chains; Makal'aka to Ngatapa, 10 miles 29 ohains. The total expenditure on railway constriction and improvement work during last financial year amounted io as underje Construction of new lines 662,919 Addition to open lines 402,252 Railways Improvement Accounts 139,750 East Coast Main Trunk Line. Northern Section.—Worlc on tho sec-' tion between Waihi and Athenree, about eight miles and three-quarters in length, has been steadily carried on during tlie past year, and considerable progress has been made. Taurauga Section.—On the important section commencing at Tauranga Harbour formation work is completed as far as Pongalcawa, nearly twenty-four miles to the east, and the goods service which K run by the Public Works Department to this point is well patronised by the settlers along the route. .Passengers, are carried between the starting point at Mount Maunganui and To Puke, thirteen miles distant. There will be some delay in completing flie steel bridge over the Kaituna River, owing to tho difficulty in obtaining material, but a temporary structure permits of ths train passing over the stream in the meantime. The Department works a .stone quarry at To Puke for ballast, and also supplies tht requirements of neighbouring local bodies from the same source. Beyond Pongakawa earthworks aro in progress over a length of fifteen miles to Matata.

Efforts were made during the year lo obtain supplies of steel for tho superstructure of the largo bridge which is to carry The railwny across Tauranga Harbour in front of the town, but owing to the extraordinary conditions prevailing in the steel industry in England, due to tho war, "it is at present impossible i'obtain supplies, and .tlio construction of bridge will therefore bo deferred until tho return of normal conditions. At the present timo tho policy is being pursue? of only completing the line sufficiently to enable traffic to be worked safely, in order that the funds', available may be utilised in extending the line as far as possible, so as to serve The maximum amount of country at the earliest possible date.

I Gisborne Northward.—From Matawai, Hie terminus of the opened line, to Tvownai Road Station, near Motu, the formation work has l>ooii completed, the rails nave been laid, and the line is parPy ballasted. A. temporary bridge carries the liue'over the Motu River, as completion of the permanent steel structure is delayed owing to tho difficulty of procuring materials. A goods service is carried on between Matawai and the railhead, timber comprising the principal freight. Construction work beyond Kowliai Road Station cannot bo put in band until the route of the main lino towards the Bay of Plenty is definitely located. Gisborne Southwards.—Construction work of a varied character lias been carried on to a point fourteen miles from the junction at Makaraka. Tho steel, bridge over tho Waipaoa River has been completed. Rails are laid up to and a mile and a half beyond Ngataiia Hi! miles from the junction), to which point a temporary goods and passenger service is carried on. Beyond ' Ngatapa some heavy cuttings are well advanced, and one tunnel-heading driven; but the funds available would not permit of this section being fully manned throughout the year. Napier Northwards. — Construction work bus been restricted to the large reinforced-concrete bridge and approaoh banks, which are to carry the railway and road over the inner harbour. Necessary plant and supplies of steel and concrete materials have been brought to the site, piles made and seasoned, and driving in .position commenced. The erection of tho bridge is being carried out. by the Deportment's slnff. and the construction of the apnrofreh-bn.nks at either end by the Napier Harbour Board under contract. The bank oil tho westshorc side is almost finished. Stratford-Main Trunk At tho western end the section from Whangamomona to Tahora, nearly ten miles in length, has fully occupied tho available staff during the whole of the past year. On this length tunnels, bridges, heavy cuttings, banks, stream and road diversions, platelaying, anil ballasting have been in progress, and half the section is practically ready for traffic, l'rom the railhead at Kohuratahi, four miles and a half from the terminiM of the open line, n scrvice tramway is in operation mi to the next station site at Tahora. The larger of two tunnels on the section is finished, and the second one is approaching completion Beyond Tahora the line follows a recently selected route through some rough country where considerable survey work will havo to be carried out before construction can be commenced.

At the eastern end of tlio line the Department is constructing the concrete piers of the important bridge which will carry the line over the Onsrarna River near the junction with the Main Trnnk line. As steel material is still unobtainable, a temporary wooden superstructure will probably be built to permit of the bridw being iise<l for traffic as early as possible. The new contractors for the Oknhu tunnel have got through with the bottom beading and commenced enlarging and lining the tunnel. Other small tunnels towards Matinre township are beins; pillowed and lined with bricks, which are made at the works established in the localitv by the Department. Earthworks "are in progress by contract and co-onerative narty up to 10} miles from Okahukura. but this section cannot be opened until the tunnels are finished. Opunake Branch. Construction work has been in progress nrincipally over the first, seven miles between the junctior at To Koti and Kapnni Nation. Earthworks are well advanced. culverts constructed, niers and abutments for two bridges built, and preparations being made for constructing concrete piers to carry a substantial bridge over the AVaingongoro River. From luipiini towards Auroa the route lias linen cleared and some culverts- nut in. Clearing and fencing along (ho five-mile brant-Mine from Kanuni to Manaia have also been carried out Ractihi Branch. Very little formation remains to bo done on this branch. Bails have been

laid for half the length, and ballasting is now in hand. Progress during the voar has been glow, principally owing to efficient labour not being available in the district.

South Island Main Trunk. At the north end 011 the eight-mile section between Ward and Wharanui plateraying and ballasting were finished under I contract towards the end of 1915. Station buildings were erected under another contract, and the completed section was taken over by the railway authorities and opened for traffic on December 4 last. Beyond the new terminus formation is complete, Tails laid, and tho line partly ballasted for a distance of three miles and a quarter; but two small 6teol bridges on this length arc unfinished, owing to difficulty experienced in obtaining steel material for their manufacture. Arthur's Pass Tunnel. The driving of the Arthur's Pass Tunnel continued steadily during tlie whole period under rcviow, by day labour in three shifts at the Otira ond, and undor co-opcrativc contract on a lesser scale at 'the Bealey end. From Otira on the western side ti-.e bottom heading in slate rock was advanced 21! chains during the nine months, and tho excavation and lining was earned ovor 17 chains during tiie same period. From tlie Bealey end only moderate progress was made, tho results being about II.V chains of heading and 13J chains of excavation and lining. There lias been a shortage of efficient labour during the whole period, the average number of men working being thirty-live at tho Otira end and fifteen at the Bealey end. The tunnel when completed will be 5 miles 25 chains in length. The present position is 'that the bottom heading bas been driven 3 miles 78 chains and the tunnel excavated and lined for 40 chains less. The untouched distance between, the 'headings from tho eastern and western sides of tho "tunnel at the end of March was 1 mile 27 chains. Thorp aro some grounds for hoping that the wettest of tho material has been traversed, and that an improvement iu working conditions at the face may be looked for. Other Railway Works. Tho expenditure out of tho Public Works Fund undor the headinjr "Additions to Lines" amowstafl during the , past financial year "to .'£402,252. Of this sum .£324,551 was spent on rollingstock, workshops, . machinery, Westing-house-brako equipment, and tlie installing of a Thomas transmission car. Tho balance covered expenditure on improvements to station accommodation and yards, engine-depots, wharves, tunnelduplication, installation of telegraph, telephone, and tablet facilities, signalling and interlocking, and other material, and the purchase of land required for station purposes. Roads on Goldfields. The total allocation under this head last year amounted" to =GG3,511, 011 account of which a vote of .£40,000 was taken. The expenditure during the year was .£24,432, and the sum proposed to bo allocated for the current year is .£41,766, on account of which a vote of .£30,000 is asked for. Development of Mining. Tho value of the mineral output for the year is less than the value of the output of tho previous year. This was only to be expected, however, in, view of UlO prohibition-'of the export of certain materials during the term of war. The output of ooal was maintained, being 2,208,624 tons, a slight decrease as compared- with the output of the previous year. In order to obtain suitable marble for tho new Parliament Buildings the • Department- undertook, by arrangement with tlie contractors, the construc. •tion of a lino of tramway from tho seashore to a new quarry over three miles distant, and at an elevation of 1500 ft. The line, with necessary bridges, sidings, and crossings, has been completed, audi is now in regular itso. A new wharf at the sea end of the tramway is in course of construction. Tho Government holds socuritv for tho idtimnte. "repayment of the outlay. Tho under the heading of "Development of Mining" during last year was J!fiCo2, and a vote of .£6OOO is proposed .to be taken this year.

Public Buildings. Voted. Expended. £ £ New buildings (Class XVIII, Public. Works Fund) 429,325 335,771 For the current year the following appropriation is proposed^ New building (Public Works Fund ..: 364,000 Parliament Buildings, Tho new Parliament Buildings etili accounts for tho heaviest item of expenditure under this heading. The contract time expired in December last, and although the building is still far from completion the principal cause of dolay—the difficulty experienced in obtaining suitable blocks of marble—is being overcome, and there seems uo reason to anticipate any further interference with the steady progress of the "work. The four-story brick structure for police headquarters in Wellington is well advanced, and substantial additions to the Government Printing Office in the same city are approaching completion. Workers' Dwellings. Last year's vote of .£55,000 was fully expended, and for tho current year a vote of -CoO.OflO is proposed, about onethird of which will be required to complete works in hand at March 31. The balanco will be expended on thirty-eight dwellings for which arrangements havo been made, and will also permit of about thirty additional dwellings being undertaken. Tourist and Health . Resorts. The expenditure under this heading amounted to ,£5167, compared with JJ8232 for tho previous year. The largest item was X 2266 on improvements at Mount Cook Hostel, iucluding a residence for tho guides and several outbuildings. Telegraph Extension. The extension of telegraph and telephone lines has steadily proceeded during the year. Twenty-seven new .offices were opened and ton new exchanges. The expenditure during the year amounted to <£249,554. Two hundred and fifty miles of line and 1274 miles of wire were added to the telegraph system, and 408 miles of line and 15,046 miles of wire to tho telephone exchange system. Fiftynino new slot telephones were installed, bringing the total up to 198 now in nso. On account of the abnormal conditions caused by the war the erection of automatic exchanges is being unduly delayed, but goods arc now expected to come forward from America, and the amount originally provided will be required. In the large centres underground cable has been substituted for aerial cable, and. the necessary buildings provided for automatic exchanges at Blenheim, Hamilton, Ponsonby, Mount Eden, and Remucra. Lighthouses. The Karori R-ock lighthouse in Cook Strait has been completed, and the light was first exhibited on October 20 last. This light is giving satisfaction to mariners. Tho necessary automatic light and tower for erection on Oknri Point, to indicate the position of the dangerous Beef Barrel Rocks near the French Pass, have been obtained, and it is proposed to commence the erection during this month.

An automatic light has also been obtained for placing on Flat lioclc, in the Hauraki Gulf, but owing to the necessity for economy during tho war no steps have yot been taken to provide the necessary tower, which it is estimated will cost about JSGSO. Departmental. All". H. J. H. Blow, 1.5.0., Under-Sec-retar.v and principal administrative officer of the Department, is retiring on superannuation, after forty-three years' service. He has occupied this position for the past twenty-live years with credit, and the vacant position lias been filled by the promotion of Mr. W, S. Short, who has been. Assistant UnderSecretary since the amalgamation of the Public Works and Roads Department in 190 S. Conclusion. In conclusion, let me express my g,eat regret at the necessity that exists during tl.c continuance of the war to curtail expenditure on roads, bridges, and railways. Much lias been dono in tho

pa6t in regard to loading, but much more still requires to be done in order to enable the produce of the land to bo brought to market, especially as settlement is progressing so rapidly. Now Zealand is incurring enormous responsibilities in connection with the war, and the ouly way iu wliich the consequent burden of taxation can be borno will bo by increasing tho quantity of our products from the land, and the facilities for transport of same to ports of shipment. This will have to bo the chief consideration after peace has been proclaimed. Meantime everything must give way to the imperative necessity of assisting the Empire to emerge victorious from the present gigantic struggle to maintain our freedom untrammelled by German domination.