The Hokitika Guardian FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1922. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1922. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

The annual statement delivered in the House this week by the Hon. J. G. Coates. Minister for Public. AA r orks, showed that for the year 1921-22, of five and a half millions voted under the Public Works appropriations, five millions and a quarter were spent. This expenditure constituted a record in the history of the Dominion, and it "ill he rather a surprising record to most people who thought the Government "ere enforcing reductions in expenditure ail round. Certain it is that many local road votes went by the hoard because the Department pleaded financial stringency! So much for another example of the humbug to which the people are being subjected to. The main estimate- this year total almost live millions, with "ell over a million of liabilities. AVlien to the proposed votes Is added the amount required for the supplementary estimates; the total votes may he expected to approximate last year’s amount—.which indicates either that we are in election year, and the Government is unusually generous; or that after all the financial position is not so had, and it is still found possible to replenish that “empty” treasury, which Sir F. D. Bell, once startled the Dominion hv declaring, there was nothing in it! That was some considerable time ago. hut the country lias struggled on. and the treasury has not run dry yet. So wo must not take too litterally the savings of Ministers who for effect at times drop into a pessimistic form of speech. Tt seems to he a camouflaged way of conveying a negative to pressing requirements, and the simple people are quietly hoodwinked all the time. Although the gross expenditure of the Department was. according to the figures high, the local roads votes on the AA’est Coast district did not disclose the same per rentage of expenditure as that generally attained over 1 lie whole Dominion. The percentage of expenditure in relation to the whole of New Zealand was not quite 92 per cent—which is certainly high. In regard to the AA'est Coast districts the percentage of expenditure did not reach 44 per cent. That is explained by the oft quoted reply to local bodies that owing to the want of funds, the works could not he authorised! As lias been remarked aliove, that was a camouflaged reply merely to deceive the people. Last year oil the Coast-. £71.000 was voted and only £31,000 spent. This year the total votes are £72.000 with a liability *o| £10,500. In view of what has been disclosed by the Minister’s statement, that in spite of the stringency, a record year has been enjoyed. the local lrodics will he within their rights to call on the Government to make good the shortcomings of' last financial year, with greater liberality in the authorisations this vear.