PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 24, 23 October 1920, Page 9

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

'''... * —— .' A SURVEY OF OPERATIONS

IMPROVED METHODS OF RAIL- • WAY CONSTRUCTION

FINANCIAL PROVISION FOR THE YEAR

The Minister of Publio Works (Hon. J. 6. Coate6> presented tho annual Publio Works Statement to the House of Representatives last tnight. The .., statement surveys tho works now in hand, and indicates to some- extent the intentions of the Department for the future The money, available for (expenditure during the current year is stated by the Minister- to be .£3,009,502, and the esti- ' mated expenditure (e.xclusivo of hydroelectric development) is .£3,572,500. The Statement mentions that the Department is making increasing use of labour-' ■■ saving machinery, and ha 9 additional ' plant on 'order. The Minister intends • to encourage the - co-operative contract ' -system. •

The most important portions of tho Statement are given below:— To meet the urgent demands upon the • Department at this period,, when so much 'leeway,, due to the almost total ■ cessation of operations during the war, ■ has to bo overtaken, further rcorganisu- . tion has been effected. Office administration has been separated from the engineering branches, and both have been further sectionnlised. The number of inspecting engineers has be'en increased. The object aimed at is .decentralisation, and the placing of more direct responsibility on the officials.- In order to ensure a contented l and efficient body of employees every effort is now made to -properly house and provide for the comfort of tho men. Collapsible huts, \ amusement halls, and Y.M..C.A. canteens have been erected at*sonie works, and others. are being arranged. The men .themselves are encouraged to take a practical interest in all matters pertaining to tho work in hand. I intend

to encourage the straight-out contract system, and to give every assistance to groups of men by providing machinery and material on-charged I feel confident that the course pursued- will be tb tho country's advantage. Tt will, secure expedition and the full energy of the men in the carrying-out of our'constructive works. ■ ■..

The task of developing as rapidly- as possiblo our latont hydro-electric energy is of urgent importance. The Government is fully aware of this fact, and every .possible provision will be made accordingly. A separate hydro-electric branch has been formed, andl Mr. -L 7 'Birks has been placed in - charge, with a staff of engineers'and with the necessary clerical assistance. An advisory board-will be set up to-further a'dvi6o the .Government, and, later, to control generally the business side. : ' RAILWAYS. • .;. ' To detail futuro railway construction would fake up too much space. Generally speaking, the lines to be constructed have been classified in order of importance, consideration at the samo time being given to the amount of .money available. New and more economical methods of construction have'been adopted ,by tho greater employment of mechanical aids. With this object in view a sum of ,£200,000 has been agreed to by Cabinet for tho purchase of necessary machinery. Details of the plant are given latei. -.It is not intended to

. distribute. this machinery nil over tho ...cj)un.trv, on. various'small -works,"but to concentrate it on' certain': definite works. .When these undertakings have beeri completed it will be removed with its personnel to other lines next in order of ..importance. Legislation will be introduced this session to' enable light rail- , wats of a less gauge than 3ft, 6in. to be constructed. EXPENDITURE. . The total expenditure on all' works and services borne, upon (he Public Works ■.Estimates amounted to the sum of £2,269,17G; or, if the special accounts having their own ways -and means are ■ excluded, the actual charges against the Public Works ', Fund amounted to ■£2,020,71', as compared with tho expenditure of ,£1,207,482 in the previous year. ,The following.table shows briefly the particulars of ■expenditure during tho financial .year ended 'March 31, ,1920:— .'""■■*■ ' • Expenditure ■ for ' year ended Class of Work. ~ March 31, ■■'• ... 1920. .-.Kailways— . . £ ■ New construction ' 588,325 • Additions to open lines 100,321 Koads 388,502 -Public bui1ding5.'....;....... 469,195 It migration. ...; Cv. 62,501 i.Lighthouses, harbour works, and •• 'harbour defences 3.49S Tourist and health resorts'. '6,194 Telegraph extension 249,379 Development of mining ..'....„.... 1,173 Defence works (general) 10,187 •Departmental ~......:...'. 121,077 Irrigation and water supply .... 34,115 Lands improvement 2,904 Ph-nt, material, and stores-. 47,082 Railway's Improvement Authorisation Act, 1914, Account .;.... 92,994 "Land for Settlements Account— ' Unads to open up Crown lands ' 61,692 AH to Water-power Works and Electric Supply Account 35,184 Waihou and Ohineniuri Rivers- ■• Improvement Account . 34,80G Total' '...; , 2,245,390 Tho total expenditure to the present date • under these headings has 'been £75,019,274. I WAYS AND MEANS. £■ ■ I On April 1, 1919, the available . ways and means, for public works purposes wcro 180,198 Additional funds were received as follow:— Under Finance Act, 1918 (No. , 2), section 29 1,940,000 Other receipts and recoveries... 114,450 Making a gross total of ... £2,240,054 The net expenditure on all works and services chargeable against" the Public Works Fund for tho year 1919-20 auipuntcd to £2,021,152 This left n credit balance in. tho Ways and Means' Account at March 31, 1920, of 219,502 Authority exists for providing further funds:— In. terms -of tho Finnnce Act, 1918 (No. 2), to tho extent of 200,000 In terms of the Finance Act, 1919 v Making a total of £1,109,502 Authority has been asked to provide a further 2,500,000 Thus making available for expenditure during the current financial year ending March 31, 1921, a sum of ... £3,009,502 The estimated expenditure on public works for the current year (exclusive of accounts which have their own ways and means) is £3,572,500, leaving an estimated credit, balance of £97,002 to be ■carried forward to next year (1921-22). In addition to the amounts above described statutory, authority exists for raising tho balances under the following accounts, viz:— £ £ Aid io Water-power Works ■ Act, 1910 51,000 Waihou and Ohinemuri Hi vers Improvement Act 1910 20,000 In terms of the Finance Act; 1919, (additional for Waihou and Ohineinurf Kivers improvement) '. 150,000 r— 221,000 Statutory authority haa

been 'obtained for the hydrc-electric' -development of Arapuni and Maugahno schemes, and further ■ extensions of Lake Coleridge; also for the purchase of Hora- ' horny • the extension thereof, and the • erection of transinissionliues, ahiounting in all to *. 6,830,000 £7,051,t00 THE "RAILWAYS PROGRESS.OF WORKS IN HAND. Only one section (Culverden to Waiau, IS miles in length) was actually handed over to Iho New Zealand Railway Department for ordinary traffic during the financial'year (ended March .'11,: 1920), although several sections, were in a sufficiently advanced stage of construction to admit of both goods and passenger traffic being handled by my Department' for the convenience of settlers and the public generally. Construction, has proceeded, with all the labour available, .on no fewer than thirty-nine sections. The-.total expenditure, including maintenance, and improvement, for the year amounted to X 841.&13, the details being:' £ Construction of new lines 588,325 Additions to open lines 160,321 Railways Improvement Authorisation. Act, 1914, Account ... 92,994 Total .....' £841,043 CONCENTRATION. Supplies of rails, steel, and hardwoods for bridges have.beon difficult to obtain, and essential machinery, ( excopt to a very limited extent, has been and is still almost unprocurable. ' Labour has been difficult to obtain, and the ability to ■ earn high wages has not attracted sufficient men of a satisfactory class. Carrying on a, number of works with insutnaent ..employees increases overhead expenses, and'renders satisfactory progress impossible. It is far fetter to fully man and vigorously prosecute a smaller number of works- With the Idea of concentrating available resources' in men, plant, and money certain proposals for .the temporary postponement of works which are ,now being carried on in a 6mall way are made. PLANT. To cope witti the shortage of efficient labour increasing' use .is being niade.of machinery, and such improved results have already been demonstrated that, in spite of 1 tho exorbitant prices now demanded, arrangements are being made to greatly increase the mechanical plant. The Department now has eleven steamshovels, with. ten locomotives attending on them, engaged on earthwork, and/ if promised deliveries are fulfilled, .will have thirty-four steam shovels and thirtyfour locomotives within the next few months. Increasing use is being made of mechanical traction not only for transport, 'but' for operating grading machinery, 'etc:: Stone-crushing r''and concrete-mixing- machinery is being installed whenever work of any magnitude is in hand.

The cement shortage has been also a continual source of anxiety. Many works cannot be commenced,, and others cannot be carried but in proper sequence. Such important works as the .Arthur' 6 Pass and other tunnels have b'cen held up owing to the impossibility of obtaining regular supplies. The progress at all works .under the difficult circumstances, however, lua beeu satisfactory. . The Statement describes tho work that has been done 'during the past year on new railway lines throughout New Zenland. The following summaries are of interest to the Wellington district:— Tauranga Westwards.—Tauranga section (3G mile 3 to 41 miles 5 chains' equals 5 miles's chains):. Some formation is being proceeded with to the extent of the man-power available. . .... ' Tauranga' Eastwards—Malapihi section (•11 miles 5 chains to 45 miles equals 3 miles. 75 chains): Erection of the Tauranga Bridge is proceeding to the full capacity of the skilled and experienced labour available. I'ive cylinders ' have been finished, and six others nro well forward. Eangitaiki section (79 miles 16 chains to 87 miles 71 chains equals 8 miles 55 chains): Forming arid trimming has proceeded uninterruptedly during the whole year and good progress has been made. Kails are now laid to 84 miles 41 chains, and u commencement is being madd with t|he liangitaiki Kiver temporary bridge.

Awakiri Section (87 miles 71 chains onwards).—Formation work is in hand, and several .miles, of service road have been .constructed. Plying surveys havebeen made, and 19 miles, of trial lines run.

those on maintenance, traffic, construction, and'location survey, 310 men are employed, it is anticipated that tho irails will bo laid into Awakeri Station .by tho end of 1920, and to W.hakatane Junction within another six months. Owing to the character of the swamp country, the rails are being laid practically on tho natural siiirface, and tlio banks built with materials brought by train from pits where it is,excavated by mechanical me,ans.

Gisborne-Wuiroa.—Ngatapa Section (0 miles to 10 miles 21) 'chains); actual length, 11 miles 18 chains).—This section is nearly completed, and has been efficiently maintained.

Waikura Section (10 miles 29 chains onwards).—Formation is proceeding with what labour is available. Seventy-four men are now-employed. The railway between Gisborne and Napier will traverse extremely difficult and treacher- ■' ous country, and, as throughout a ereat deal of its length it does not follow tho present line of road, it will be many years, even with fho most vigorous prosecution, before it will lx> of lrnterial assistanco to through passengers. It seems to mo, therefore, that the proper policy will be to push on as oiergetically' as possible with tho construction of a metalled road between these two important centres. As soon as this is. done thero will bo at le.ast ono sure avenue of communicatio'n,' and the men engaged 'on this road work can all bo placed on 'the railway works; and, furthermore, by that time, with the completion of erimo of the other work in hand, inoro plant, and men will bo available. By their concentration tlu-u on the railway •between Napier and Giaborao tho con. l.ection will 1* rac.lo' fl l ns emly a da*o as. would result fro'n an nWeinpt at the present time'lo push on with the very limited supply of labour and material at present available. AVairoa-Gisborne. — 'Frasci-town Section (0 miles onwards). — 1-ab-onr shortage prior to December last materially hampered work on this section, but men hnvo been n.oro plentiful since. Formation is proceeding, service roads are hern? formed, and fencing erected. Shortage of cr.'.uuit has delayed the eonstruc'ion of culverts, etc, fifty-four Inen are now a» work. Na.pi.-r-Wdii-on - Kskdale Section (length. 11 mile* ."! rl;ains).-Thc foinoition nf the whole length nf this section is coiiiii'ic'.i.ml nml leady I'd' plnlelaying. with" Iho exception of Hie' first--30 chains, on which a -steam "hovel is employed. There are also small gaps where' the old channels ol' Hie 'I'ntaelcnri Itirer arc eroded, which launot ' li". olo=ed until I hi- river diversion <m th" loft of H:o line is completed. .'. Tntirn Section (11 miles SI chtins on-

formation, works on tlin frst

two miles' of this section are fully manned. The service road is being constructed, foncing erected,' and culverts built. The number of men emploved is 190.

Waikokopu. Branch.—Nuhaka Section miles to 17 miles 12 chains equal 17 niiles 12' chains).—Work was commenced in. March last by the letting of a number, of co-operative contracts.to returned Maori soldiers. .Approximately two hundred horses and fifty 6coops are .at present engaged on the works, tho Natives providing tho horses and the Department the scoops; 107 employees are nt present engaged, About six miles of formation has been completed, and it is anticipated that the rails will be laid on 20 miles within tho next twelve months.

Stratford-Main Trunk.—East End — Matiere Section (0 miles to 10 miles 21 chains, ':quul 10 miles 21 chains).—Tho formation work on this section is now practically complete, and tho labour available- is concentrated principally, on tho tunnels. Only 7 chains'of the Okahu Tunnel (70 chains iit length) remain to be done. Of tho other three, one is finished throughout, and the excavation of the other two is! completed, and a commencment has been made with the lining of one.of these. All materials for the steel bridge over l!io Ongarue Paver are on hand, and a. contract has been let for tho erection. As it is anticipated that this contract will, take about twelve months to complete, and as there is a considerable length of formation ready for Mho rails, I propose to erect a temporary'bridge to enable the platelaying and balasting to bo eii.lrt'icd on beyond thft fcridge, thus saving many months in the final completion of the line. Several bridges which occur ojl this length will consist of concrete- piers with steel Bupeisfructure. The concrete- piers will lio erected this summer.'- The steel for tho bridges'has already been ordered. Immediately it arrives the contract will bo entered into. Xn-.-v,4tw of tho difficulties in obtaining cement, etc., I do not think that even.with the aid of the temporary bridge previously, referred to the rails can Teach Matiere under twelve months. '

Olnira Section (10 miles 21 chains to 19 miles 70 chains, equal 9 miles 49 chains).—Permanent survey plans have been completed, and the land pian survey is 'in hand. About 1 j miles of formation, has been completed. Suiy-two men are at work.

■ West End—Tahora section (42 miles 20 chains' to 47 miles 40 chains—s mil*s 14 'chains)— Work during tho year was confined principally to the completion, of tho formation of this section and 6ervi"» roads for the section immediately, beyond. Platelaying has been extended into the Tahora yard, and ballasting has been continued. ■ Beyond Tahora tliern is little settlement, arid it can be served by a terminus at Tahora. The work li»yond is heavy, and I propose to discontinue operations, and to complete the line to .Tahora and hand it over to the Railway Department. Later, when somo of the othc'i' lines are completed, work, can be recommenced beyond Tahora • with greater vigour, and the tim'e of ultimate connection will not thus be appreciably delayed; ■ . Raekohua Section (47 miles 40 chains to 50 miles 00 chains).—Formntion lias been commenced, service roads are under construction, fencing is in course of erection and bridges are being built. I propose discontinuing on this section as indicated, above, and. transferring -the men to the Ohura end.'

Heao Section (50 miles GO chains- onwards).—s} miles of trial' survey has -been made from- near the Tangarakau River towards tho Heao, leaving 1 mile of trial lino to reach the Heao River. The permanent euryjy from 50 miles to 53 miles has also been' completed and a servbe road laid off. Eighty men ate engaged on this,line. •'

Opunake ' Branch.—Kapuni Section ■ (0 miles (i chains to 7. mites —6 miles 74 chains).—All earthwork formation is completed with the exception of a email gap at 1 mile 12 chains. The construction of the Waingongoro bridga • proceeds satisfactorily when cement is available, but work on the Kapuni bridge had to be discontinued owing to shortage of skilled men and cement, .. .. ,• Auroa-riScction- (7 ; miles = t*v 12 miles—S ■miles) .—Formation is being pushed on to the full oxtcnt of the labour offering. Manaia Branch Section (0 miles to I miles 49 ■ chains—s miles 49 ehains).Satisfactory progress has besri made witt formation ;works on this section. J) special contract is in hand for tho for nation of, the Mannia station yard which is more than half completed. Abou forty double huts were erected on tin Hub during the year for tho better lions ing of workmen, -who number fifty, at pre sent. Completion of the line to Jlanan iVthe'goal at-present aimed at. Mount Eginont Branch-Work on tin line -was discontinued during theywai but the incv.uasing demand for road metn in Taranaki suggests that tho line shouh be brought to the producing point. Bt fore work.is resumed, however, I propns to have agreements with all the' locn bodies interested for them to take crush cd metal regularly in definite quantities If this is not-done, and the demand i spasmodic, tho works cannot Ire made I pay.

Wellington-Woodvillo Railway (Eimntaka, Deviation).—The Department has in hand thtv collection of information as to the relative merits of numerous routes ■which have 'bton suggested in connection with the deviation for obviating tl e present incline crossing tbi Rimutaka divide. Some of theso routes have already been' surveyed, and as soon as suitable officers can be. spared from other works a.definite decision as to the route to lie followed will bo made. It must be realised that this is fl vary, important matter whichi cannot be delegated to' junior officers.

Midland.—Otira-Bcaley (Arthur's Pass Tunnel).—OKra End.—All work was carried out by day labour prior to last May, sinco when the co-operative system has been in operation. Nineteen oblains of lining have been completed during (lie year. Bad ground was encountered at this end.

Beaky End.—Work at this end continued on the co-opcrnUvo principle <1 tiring the whole year. Exactly the same number of chains of lining (1!)) was finished as at the Otira end, making 38 for the year. Only 51.51 chains iiow remain to completo the whole work. One hun.(iro dand eighty-thrte men are employed. Arrangements for the electrification y e well forward, and for this work very substantial votes 'will be required this and next year. If the contracts now filtered into and the.further works complementary thereto au; carried out within the contract time, it is expected thlat an expenditure of i' 500,000 will be incurred noxt yl;nr, and it may be to curtail expenditure on 6omo less important Hues on account of this high figure. Additions to Open Lines.—The- expenditure tinder this heading amounted to /;I«n.3M. Of this'sum JJSO.GG2 was ex- 1 pended in the provision of additional rolling-stock, tarpaulins', AVoslinghoiißo brake., and workshop machinery. Tim bahiiicc covered expenditure on improvements to workshops and engine-depots, station facilities, water services, additional dwellings, waterproofing the lining in the Spiral Tunnel, lablet-instnllii-tic-ns. and purchase of land. Hallways Tinproveiiient Authorisation Aor, - 1914.—Expenditure under this Act Amounted to .£92,901 for grade easements, duplications, new stations, station yards goods-sheds, and 'terminal facilities 'it Auckland: additions In workshops; nii:nnlling. interlocking, and safely appli: ancea.

OTHER DEPARTMENTS ' ■pirnlic nuiLWiVGs PARLIAMENT HOUSE. During tho year the contractor rm« pushed on with the Legislative Council (ilinniliei', and tho rooms an<l corrida n « e the principal and first floors of Hie Museum Street footage. About (1(100 cubic fcot of stono was worked, and about the same quantity was scv during the .ywii. Tho short doliveiy of slono lnriroK accounts for tho delay tin the complelio'i of tho building. PRISONS, llmlding opernlinns hnvo been somewhat bumpered during the grealor part of the. year, owing to tho dillieiilly in obtaining cement Additional concretobloek and stone cottages for the occupation of officers have been commenced at Auckland. At U'aikeria a reservoir of 1)5,000. gallons capacity has been finished: one. cottage and ,another building were erected, but two other cottages aa well

hs the officers' quarters aro now ownitinf the necessary timber to admit of '.ha roofs being completed. Building has been carried on as vigorously as circumstances permitted at Point lfalswell, Wi Tako (Trcnthani), Templeton, and Invercivrgill. Tho Prisons Department has completed arrangements to supply the [lousing Department'with coucrolo blocks mul roofing-tile? for use in- the erection o-fivorkers' dwellings, but the shortage of cement has: prevented even, a comruoi cement being mado with tho mainline luro of this material. . Concrete-block Hiil tile making have been carried on at Paparua, and drainage, reclamation, »ni other work at luvcrcargill. POLICE STATIONS, ' On account of the scarcity of labour and the abnormal cost uf building, very littlo was done in the erection of new police stations during the year, Jinny of the older buildings occupied as police Muttons are now beyond repair, and are reaching the limit of their useful life The erection of new buildings iu thc-so noses will bo put in hand immediately, lenders at a reasonable figure are obtained. POST ANU,TELEGRAPH BUILDINGS. Expenditure on nejv buildings and additions during the year han been compurntively small. Alliiiy important'works postponed during the war period are being put in hand where satisfactory lenders are obtainable. AGRICULTURAL. The work; of erection by contract of' in, up-to-date rabbit poison-mixing depot ot I'rankton Junction is well advanced Repairs and improvements were effected to various residences fchroughdiif. the Dominion. A. poison-mixing depot is reiiuired at Dunedi.'i. anil field drainage at Ku-kura,, and it is proposed to proceed with these works during ihe ensuing year. \n adequate- water, supply for Moumahaki Experimental Farm, n model wilking-siied at Weraroa, and repairs to tht- fruit-fumigating depot at Auckland will also l)o proceeded with. With a view to encouraging wheat-growing tho Department has purchased and intends to install a small model flour-mill for the purpose of testing .the flour-produeing qualities of iliffnrent varieties of locallygrown wheat.', MENTAL HOSPITALS. General repairs and renovations have been effected ht Auckland, and a. commencement: made with a large addition b Park '[louse.' At Tokaniii the fifth ■unit has been completed, and the admission blocks for ; . both main and female patients are being proceeded with A new drainage system has.been installed at Porirua. A contract was let for a new reception block at-Nelson. At Sunnyside and.Seacliff urgent repairs have been effected, and at the former institution th» electric cooking facilities have been extended. A private residence at Hornby, situntcd on 50 acres of suitably.plantj-d land, has been purchased for selected patients who are able and willing to pay more than the usual maintenance charts. The construction of an additional unit to accommodate fifty patients at Waitaa has been commenced. EDUCATION.' Tho expenditure out of the Public 1 Works Fund on education buildings .during tho financial year was ,£195,500, an increase of JJ79,SW over that for the previous yj.>ar. Tho commitments for new buildings at the end of the year amounted to X51i0,051, but l*ul increased to about ,£850,000 at the end of July. As explained.. Inst, year, it is proposed to charge only. ,£250,000 of the expenditure for the current year to the Public Works Fund, and to provide whatever further funds ate required for education buildings in accordance with the Education Purposes Act, 1919. This Act provides for loans aggregating ,£:),- 500,000 during the current and the next three years for education" buildings and 6ites, a sum that should under ordinary conditions be ample- for'all reasonnbl|> ierjuirenicaits. Tho education boards, secondary school boards, and otlu-tr controlling authorities, arc, however, .finding. it increasingly, difficult to arrange by. contract or other'wise for the erection'of buildings.- The Govemmcn i t's efforts to meet the insistent demand for better school accommodation are limited not by its financial resources, but 'by the difficulties experienced in obtaining supplies of timber, cement, hardware, and other building material, and in securing workmen to eioct the buildings. Embarrassing de-

lays aro thus created in the erection of many school buildings, th|> need for which! is most urgent in the interests of all concerned. The Government is endeavouring to relieve the position as much as possible'by giving preference-to the most urgent works in the matter of supplies of material, and by postponing tho making of grants for those buildings which, though necessary, aro not absolutely essential.'' WORKERS' DWELLINGS.. The expenditure under this heading from April 1, Win,' to the passing of the Housing -Act in November was £26fiA made up as follows':—Acquisition of land, J. 15,566; purchaso of dwellings already erected, .-£7301; erection of dwellings, ,£3803. ' Sinei; the Housing Act came into force all expenditure lias been charged against tho Housing Account. HARBOUR WORKS. Owing to.tho liigli cost of and difliculty of procuring material,, very little has been done in the matter of harbour works, but tho activities of tho Deparfr ment will.be resumed immediately it is obtainable, TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS. Material is being assembled at Wnikaremoana Hostel for rem> vations, and drainage. The fencing' pi tho To Puia Hot Springs Reserve is in hand. .Copeland ..Track has been repaired, and a new hut at Clarke is in course of erection. Provision is made this year for a number of new works at tho various resorts. IMMIGRATION. . It has been decided to extend the "nominated passages" system to enable any permanent resident of the Dominion to nominate, persons residing in the United Kingdom.- This can be done irrespective of ■ questions of relationship or occupation, provided that f On undertaking is given that employment will be awaiting the nominees on arrival, anil that adecfuate provision will be mado for tneir-maintenance alter arrival. A considerable .-number, of immigrants are awaiting opportunities to secure berthing accommodation to enable . them to proceed to the Dominion. In future suitable domestic servants will, be granted i'reo third-class passages, tog&hcr with an allowance of M for expenses. It' is hoped that this may be the means of securing a much larger number of suitable girls for the Dominion. The Imperial Government has commenced its tree immigration scheme for ex-service-men—viz., officers and men of the Royal '.Navy, tho 'British Army,- or the Royal Air Force (excluding Dominion and colonial forces'), who have served in the present war and who wisji to settle within the Empire overseas. These exservice men, with their dependants, will receive free..third-class passages, provided they aro approved under one of the agricultural settlement schemes of the nver-

seas Governments or are proceeding to assured employment, and are otherwise acceptable to the Government uf the territory to which they desire In go. This, privilege will idso bo extended to the widows and dependants of ex-service uien who are entitled to a pension from Imperial funds.under the. terms of the pensions warrant. A number of immigrants under this heading havo already arrived in the Dominion. ROADS CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE. Tho operations under this head have been carried out partly by the Department and partly by tho* various local bodies, under Departmental supervision. My ollicers have attended primarily to tho location and construction of roads and bridges, and the local bodies generally to metalling, although this rule has not been rigidly adhered to. The total sum voted last session for roads, etc., roads on goldticlds, and maintenance ol roads (this latter fruiu tho Consolidated Fund) was .tli'OT.OS.'i, and of this JMIT.IWI was expended. In addition, funds have been provided by the Department of Lands and Survey for reading returned soldier settlement and . uther blocks, which in most cases have .been entrusted