The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1911. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 100, 18 October 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1911. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

It may he presumed that the people of New Zealand take an absorbing interest in Ministerial statements because such statements are a record of progress that has been made and progress that has been proposed. A Public Works Statement, although it again retails many figures and facts that formed the basis of the Budget, reminds us that New Zealand is still in a development state. The Minister of Public "Works reminds us that although the total expenditure was not equal to the expenditure of the previous year, it was still satisfactory. Out of an available sum of £3,1'03,614 only £2,190,954 was expended. The sum of £2,921,000 tjie Minister considers to be necessary to carry out the public works programme of the present year. It is gratifying to be assured that a vigorous development policy is to be pursued, and that the year is to be a busy one for railway construction. Thus while £734,145 was expended under this head last year, £1,083,000 is voted for this year, a recognition of the fact that settlement, progress and revenue depend on the ability of the producer to reach a market quickly. It is gratifying to Taranaki people to note that a sum of £IOO,OOO lias been allocated for work on the Stratford Main Trunk line, contrasting handsomely with the £75,234 used last year. The Government happily recognise the immense developmental importance of this line and the necessity for rapid completion when it allocates about one-seventh of the total railway.vote to this work. The fact that the section between Te "Went and T'ohokura is finished, and passengers and goods being carried to Polmknra and to the foot of the Whangamomona Saddle, is evidence of the vigor of the work and an earnest for still more vigorous application to a national necessity. The thirty chain tunnel at this point is proceeding rapidly. and represents one of the chief difficulties on the line, but once the work is completed the "iron horse" should be well on its way fo Wlianga. whither it is expected to arrive within a year front date. The Minister for Public. Works shows that the clearing and fencing on the Taihora, section is going ahead, and that surveyors are busy on field work for

I . a further extension, a position, so I !i far as Taranaki is concerned, that) is higlily encouraging, promising | j, a l)usv time and further prosper- 1 c ity. Of more titan passing inter-1 r est to the people of the province j 1 is the vote of £15,000 for the Mt. Egmont branch line, an extension t that is> absolutely essential if Tara- ) naki is to benefit by the existence ' of the line. The line has been a j source of great expense, and it is ) time i f became revenue producing, c ,It is impossible not to feel disap- ] pointed at the smallness of the ; roads vote. The roads of New , Zealand are the arteries through 1 which the lifeblood of the country < flows. Every road in a settled dis- 1 triet, is an asset to New Zealand. . Every road in a district that is susceptible of settlement induces settlement. Last year the appropriation was £783,485. This year it is £788,350. There is no reason' why the vote should not be double, for there is no form of public works which so quickly or directly repays the outlay as 'roads. We sincerely hope that the whole of this money will be carefully, and wisely spent, and that the utmost vigor be infused into a work that is of such vital importance to New Zealand. In tirj e New Zealand must be fully roaded. There is no advantage to be gained by delay. It will possibly be roaded with the help of loan moneys, whether the loans are many and spread over a number of years, or whether one great loan is raised to cover the job and get it finished with all expedition. Roads mean that tremendous areas of land now engaged in | growing weeds and producing no : thing but "taihoa." would be opened. If there are any excuses for big loans the best is that they be used for development purposes. Lack of roads is one of the severest handicaps this country can possibly have. "We arc only here for a brief term, and, although it may he selfish of us to desire the roads now that our grandchildren may get, it is very natural. We are justified in desiring as rapid progress in our day, and generation as may be possible. The electrification of some sections of railways, if not vitally necessary, is higlily interesting, and the success of electrical energy gained by water-power and used for railway transit will at least demonstrate whether it can be profitably adopted throughout the system. A highly useful and necessary work in the irrigation of dry areas in the south has been J pursued during the year, .and the promise that even greater vigor will be used on work that must eventually pay handsomely is satisfactory.