PUBLIC WORKS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 154, 25 March 1919, Page 8

PUBLIC WORKS

GUIDING PRINCIPLES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, March 21 Replying to the Utira Tunnel deputation to-day the Hon. G. W. Russell said ho had been considering the principles that should guide the Dominion in regard to public works. These might be given as follow: (1) That public expenditure should be concentrated upon the most rapid possible completion of railway linos. in order that they may attain their full revenue-producing power as early as possible. (2) That preference should be given to those lines which will open up the country for settlement or bring mineral districts into contact with their natural ports. (3) That where land will be largely increased in value by construction of railway lines, a just and equitable proportion of the increases in values thus created should become the property of the State, in order to assist in paying the cost of tho line, and that the most equitable method by which this could bo done would be the resumption by the State of the lands affected prior ilo the works of construction being started. The day when twenty railway lines should bo under construction at the rate of a mile or so a year, for political reasons, must cease.

The Minister added that the country could not afford, in view of its huge financial obligations, to adopt any policy of railway construction but that which was based upon a business and commercial line, always bearing in i mind the jmst claims of the various portions of the Dominion to equal treatment under eqimi conditions and necessities.