Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY. MAY 30. 1917 PINCHING PARSIMONY.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY. MAY 30. 1917 PINCHING PARSIMONY.

Thb statement credited to the Minister if or Public Works that ha etill has in hand £IBO.OOO for roads aud bridges is rather illuminating in the light of the off repeated statements by the Minister himself as to the paucity of money. There is also a cryptic anronocemenfc that he intends to ask t,he (government to continue “th 9 present policy ” without imposing farther - restrictions oa public undertakings.” To understand the financial position of the road and bridges account it is necessary tc go back to the last Pablio Works statement. The Minister then set out that in the previous year to that he had taken sufficient authorities to distribute the expenditure of the money over two years, that is up to 31st March last. In consequence of this there were co fresh estimates for new grants ior roads and bridges. A year ago then all unexpended votes were revoted and these aggregated £390,250 for roads aud baokblook roads under the Public Works Department. A confiding public who expected this sum to be expended daring the financial year on what the Minister himself speaks of in his last statement as “ urgently needed works,” will be very muoh surprised to fin 1 that little

more than half of the amount hat been spent, for the Minister declares he now has in hand over £IBO,OOC for roads and bridges ! Presumably this sum is fobs carried forward still for unauthorised works on estimates, and so the game of fooliug the people by voting sums for works which the Government have not any intention of spending within tbs financial year goes on its mystifying way. What of the future? It may be assumed that continuing the public works “ policy ’» with all the breaks on,' £lßu,ooo now in hand will be sufficient for this financial year, whiob means that for three years at least there is not any new money available, A ' year ago Mr Frager had half a million to raise ont of authorised loan moaey, and it is not clear whether this has yet come in. If not, his oash balance for roads and bridges should be larger than tbe sum stated to be in hand. The parsimony which has gone on in regard to roads and bridges has been very marked Money promised for works is often withheld indefinitely, the officials finding a way to proorastinate while the publio service suffers. A year ago there was a serious flood in the Arahura Valley and remedial measures were asksd for. Engineers visited, surveyors visited and finally the Minister visited—all at considerable coat to the country—but despite these inspections nothing has been done yet*

An extravagant outlay has been going on in and abont Parliament tdouEe during the year, although next year Parliament is to remove into its adjoining palatial quarters, and the present structure will require to be demolished, When Ministers are talking about economy and aoting with such extravagance there is the loophole for adverse comment. Mr Fraser went abont the country some months ago promising certain expenditure to local bodies, but much of it is still withheld. This though the wtrks are of a most urgent character, and have been included in the estimates for same time past. A clear exposition of the public works fund and a precise explanation of what is to be done with the money, followed by actions in keeping with the promises would be much appreciated by the public just now.