FRIDAY,OCTOBER 31,1924. The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. THE PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9850, 31 October 1924, Page 4

FRIDAY,OCTOBER 31,1924. The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. THE PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES

The Public Works Estimates, whicl

were presented in the House this

week do not provide for new work

on the East Coast to an extent that will occasion v. ikl enthusiasm on the part- of its residents. It will be noted, for example, that not a single

penny is set apart for the purpose el making a start at either Gisborne or at Nulraka in connection with the projected railway via the now coastal route that has been wrongly adopted I in Him of the Xgaiapa route. Work 1 on what is officially known as the

Xnoicr-Gishorne .line is. we are fold

to he concentrated on in the case only of the Tutira section. Put for all that, whilst most substantia! votes are again proposed with reterence to

the Yfaihi-Taneatua line and the North Auckland Main Trunk line, ihe amount for expenditure on the Tu.'.ira section this year has been increased hv onlv £:id.TTO. As regards the

fite's water-power schemes, hope;

td . been entertained that, seeing

iluit the c:>usiruction of it mojor plant i-*> to ho started at W aikaromcaiia next year, there would lo some appreciable evidence in fins year’s Public Works Statement- of tb.at infention. more particularly so as the current national year runs on until March 31 next. Put it will hi* found that, a paltry £2OOO only has been car-marked in that regard. There can, however, be no question but that a reasonably early start will require to be- made next year with that important work. In his remarks on the subject, MV Coates points out that the Government realises that it must proceed with the work in tin not distant future. As to the tourist resorts, the story that lias to be told as far as this district's requirements are concerned is much of a similar tenor. The Government has at last agreed to - make radical improvements at Lake House (W aikaremeana) and in this regard it should be commended. As to Morero, there i< a- new vote for £-300 which, one would imagine, will not go very -fhi\ ' although it must he reckoned welcome in its way. Then, again, there is the matter of the longpromised grant lor an up-to-date hostel at To Puia. This year’s estimates see tlit- removal altogether of the small vote that had been standing under that "heading. It may be recalled. however, that it has been strongly hinted that the Government intends to use its endeavours to hate, the Waipiro Bay hotel shifted to To Pula. If the House will agree to legislate in favor of such-a transfer, the- Government may feel that it will then be under no obligation in the meantime to go on with the building of a hostel at To Puia. What this district requires to roly upon in the wav of new works—apart from the

additions to the Post Office and a few I

minor buildings—is the help that the Government pledges itself to afford, per medium of the Public Works Department and the Highways Hoard, in the matter of greatly improved roaas. The Highway Board’s grants foi this district certainly compare most favorably with those for other districts. But it must not he overlooked that, when the votes under both headings are added together, tho total does not greatly exceed, say, what was allocated in the way of Public Works votes last year. In passing, wo cannot refrain from stressing also that of last year’s votes for this district only a trifle over half was actually expended. May the added energies of the Highways Board ho the means of seeing to it that as much as possible of this year’s-grants is expended! What is, at any rate, gratifying in connection with the road votes is that the Highways'Board will accept the obligation to assist to maintain those roads in which it is interested.