PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1926, Page 1

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

(Per Favour of Government.) WELLINGTON, August 19. The Eton. K. S. Williams (Minister of Public Works) delivered the Public Works Statement in the course of which he stated : Honourable members are aware that I assumed the office of Minister of Public Works only on the eve of the present session, whilst the operations of the Public Works Department, with which this Statement deals, relate to a period closing before my assumption of office. It will not- be expected of metherefore, that I should do other than present a statement of the works accomplished, with their accompanying accounts, during tho past year of office of my predecessor. The responsibility for the works planned for tho ensuing year, and ‘ which honourable members will be asked to make appropriation, as well as for the general policy to be followed. I accept as my own.

It is no mere sense of courteous duty which, impels me to express appreciation of the invaluable work which has been carried through bv my predecessor. During his term of office lie succeeded in acquiring a close personal knowledge of the works in hand and in prospect, their position and their objective. lie, further, sought personal acquaintance with his staff and the employees of his Department, and studied their conditions and personal welfare. His capacity for getting at essentials, both in work and in men, has led to the building of a human organisation under vastly improve conditions, with the inevitable result—better work for the State. Better conditions' mean better men and bet-

ter work. 1 hope the experience already gained in the development of new country will enable me to appreciate the merits of the proposed works, and a knowledge of what expenditure would he wise and what would lie insufficiently profitable for the immediate benefit of the country. so that the best results may he obtained from works undertaken. Public Works Knud Expenditure should result only after a. careful weighing of all the evidence. In dealing with proposals for expenditure on new works, whether they be in relation to wliat limy be termed district works or inter-district works, it is my intention. as far as possible, to consider each with a view to connecting up with a larger scheme of works, and so prevent isolation; in other words, public works must be constructed where possible in accordance with a comprehensive scheme embracing the whole area. Careful consideration must bo given to expenditure proposals which involve competition between road and railway, cr instructed or proposed. It is not fair criticism at this stage to condemn what may now appear to be errors of the past. The extraordinary development of motor traffic has changed the Vvi.ole position, to tho extent that it is necessary to investigate the question as t,, whether ceretain lines of railway should not be closed down altogether, for the reason that they cannot, under unproved road'conditions and resulting competition by motor traffic, pay their way. These railways in their day developed the financial resources of the districts they served. That development has placed the district in a position to improve it's roads to a degree enabling motor-vehicles to convey farm requirements from town stores to farm, and farm-prducts to town stores jv main-line stations or ports.* We have obviously arrived at a stage of development where the transport requirements of a district must be studied with the utmost care, and a constructive policy adopted which will provide the. most economic means of transport without, duplicating expenditure. During the last financial year a total length of 53 miles 20 chains of railway was handed over to the Railway Department for incorporation with the general raliway system of the country. Tn addition to tho lines handed ovei, rails have been laid on 22 miles 39 chains, and goods traffic has been coined on over a length, of 52 miles, while traffic of all descriptions has been run by the Public Works Department over 111 miles 61 chains, the two principal sections being between Tauranga, The Mount and Taneatun, and between Wairoa and Wikokopu. SOUTH ISLAND LINES. Work on the Glenhope-Mnrchison portion of the 'Midland Railway had advanced sufficiently in November. 1925. to enable goods traffic tn be run over the Kawafiri Section, which _ is nearly 4 miles long; and that section was completed and handed over to the Railway Department in May-last, with the exception of 2 chains at the far end, where a large slip occurred. The question, however, of the further prosecution of this work will hare to he seriously considered in view of the increasing efficiency of transport by road, and atTpresent the Departments concerned are investigating the position with regard to this particular section. T hone that I will shortly be m a position‘to personally visit this district to enable me to judge of the requirements and tho best methods to he adopted Formation and culverts on Cascade Creek Section of the Westport-Tnanga-lniaplino are finished, and the rails are laid to Cascade Crock Bridge, at the

end of the section, with ballasting almost completed. One of the several bridges on this section is erected and tho others are in course of construction. A survey lias been made and plans prepared for proposed coal-sid-ings at Cascade Greek. Tho survey for the South Island Main Trunk Railway between Wliaranui and Parnassus has been in hand for some time. The line, if constructed, would be an extremely expensive one, and it is a matter for serious consideration if the requirements would not he met by the introduction of a road motor service between railheads. When details are available relating to the traffic likely to be secured by this method, a decision will be arrived at. The tool expenditure under all votes and accounts appearing on the public works estimates for the financial year ended 31st. March, 1926, was £7,495,094. Of this sum £4,615,585 was expended out of General Purposes Account, and the balance, £2,879,509 out of special accounts. WAYS AND MEANS. On the Ist. April, 1925, tho available -ways and means for public works purposes were 379,439 Additional funds were received as follows: , (a) Transferred from Consolidated Fund in terms of section 12 of tlie Appropriation Act, 1925 500,000 (b) Under Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1922 ... ... 1,084,015 (c) Under Finance Act, 1923, section 2 (public works) 1,084,015 (d) Under Finance Act, 1924, section 2 (public works) 2,065,893 (e) 'Recoveries on account of previous years 27,475 (f) Ellesmere and Forsyth Reclamation and Akaroa Railway Trust Account receipts 1,671 £5,142,508

The net expenditure on works and services against the General Purposes Account for the'year wa5 —£4,616,087. This left a credit balance in the account for general purposes at 31st. March, 1926, of— £526,421. Legislative authority exists for raising a. further—£4,o6l,oso.

'lt is proposed to ask for further legislative. authority to borrow, when required—£s,ooo,ooo. Thus making available for public works, general purposes, a total 0f—£0,587,471. Tlie estimated expenditure under tho account for tho current financial year, including the transfer of £400,000 to Main Highways Construction Fund, is —£4,893,470. * OFFICERS SENT ABROAD. Mr F. W. Furkert, Engincer-in-Cliief and Under-Secretary, left the Dominion early in April of this year for the purpose of a general investigation of engineering matters in the United States and the Continent of Europe. While abroad he will attend the Fifth International Roads Congress at Milan. Mr ®. Bold, Principal Land Purchase Officer, left for England early in April last, and while abroad will inquire into the procedure in respect to legislation affecting the acquisition or interference with private lands, and also relative to proposals for schemes of public utility, and will report to the Government on liis return towards the end of the year. ROAD-CONSTRUCTION. The expenditure on road-construction lias been steadily increasing from year to year, and during last financial year it has again constituted a record for this branch of the Department’s operations. The diagram on the following page shows the trend of the Department’s rending programme since 191314, and it will be seen that tlie £1.000.000 mark has nearly been reached. MAIN HIGHWAYS.

A number of roads Inure been added to the main highways during the year, with a corresponding advantage to the local authorities. The Board’s relations with the local bodies continue to be of a very satisfactory nature. Tt has been successful in obtaining more, substantial contributions from some local authorities towards th<? maintenance of Oovernment roads, being portions of main highways, than was formerly the case, and local bodies are showing that they aro earnestly striving to meet the requirements of the Board relative not only to ordinary maintenance of main highways, but construction and reconstruction on an improved scale to that formerly obtaining. It is here remarked that all reconstruction schemes arc thoroughly investigated by the Highways Board, and the necessity for local bodies to prove the economic soundness of their schemes tends to regulate local government borrowing. MENTAL HOSPITALS DEPARTMENT. At Hokitika a new villa to accommodate thirty-eight patients has been erected, with tho necessary furniture and fittings. Improvements at B. and F. Wards havo been authorised. A SUMMARY. To state in brief the operations of the Department, I would point out that in the past seven years £7,480,719 lias been expended on railway-construc-tion. and during that period a length of 317 miles of railway has' been brought under traffic, of which 153 miles have been handed over to the Railways Department for working, while 104 miles are being operated by the Public Works Department for the carriage of goods and passengers. The cost of the lengths handed over to the Railways Department was. including Otira Tunnel, £5,423.119. a considerable portion of which was expended prior to 1919. On the various classes of roads, including main highways, a total of £1,073.570 was expended, and during the seven years considerable improvements in road-construction methods have boon introduced. Further extensive work lias been done in tho direction of additional construction and improved surfacing of roads. Tn the sphere of hydro-electric development. 60.233 horse-power lias been developed and transmitted to centres of demand, at a capital cost of approximately £3.900.000. an average cost of £59 per horse-power. 20.000 additional liorse-power has just been brought into operation at Lake Coleridge. An area of 28,114 acres has been irrigated, the expenditure during the past seven years amounting to £009,961. This sum includes expenditure for supply of water to further areas when construction operations are sufficiently advanced.

Another activity involving considerable expenditure from the Public Works Fund is telegraph extension, the expenditure on which during last seven years lias been £4,234,767, distributed annually as follows: 1919-

Mechanical plant has been largely

availed of, and has proved satisfactory on works where such can be advantageously used; at the same time the Department has been able to employ more manual labour than in earlier years. The introduction of mcchnical plant and labour-saving appliances has been advantageous, allowing of large operations being entered upon without reducing tlie number of men required. Tlie housing of the workers still continues to receive the same attention as hitherto from the Department: the provision of huts in place of tents has proved economical in places where camps for workmen were established. The Department’s main operations consist in providing increased transport both by rail and road, aiding the producer and distributor alike.

Tlie development of water-power resources, thereby making electricity available in many areas, has been a very prominent feature in the Department’s operations over a decade. Further development works in this connection are still in hand, the major operation being the harnessing of the Waikato River at Arapuni. while the large undertaking for the utilization of power from Lake Waikaremoana has been commenced on a substantial scale. The advantages accruing to settlers in the liackblocks as a result of improved roads, telephonic communication, and electric lighting and power, cannot be overestimated, and these benefits have ben brought about in a comparatively short period.

The provision of suitable buildings for tlie operations of the State Departments must continue to be made as the population increases, and the activities of the State expand. Tlie erection of buildings to accommodate many Bp•nartments lias been aimed at in all large centres; enabling a concentration of offices which hove been distributed over wide areas with a corresponding disadvantage to tlie general public. The provision of adequate water-sup-plies for irrigation purposes in areas where the rainfall 'is small and the production affected thereby is a development of recent years. Central Otago has received attention hitherto, but there are other districts in the Dominion where similar conditions are found, and the Government, when the occasion arises, will extend its operations to meet the demand.

20, £249,379; 1920-21, £336,468; 192122 £590,981; 1922-23, £501,575; 192324; £717,409; 1924-25, £957,294; 192526, £931,661.