PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1915, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

A SMALL DOCUMENT. the principal iteus. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. The Public Works Statement was delivered in the House of Representatives this afternoon by the Hon. W. Fraser, Minister of Public Works, as follows: — It is a somewhat extraordinary fact that, notwithstanding the thousands of workers who have joined the Expeditionary Forces, some 5000 men still require to be engaged on public works to prevent the cry of unemployment being heard. This in some measure is explained during the winter months, but not so during summer and autumn, when shearing, harvesting and the other operations incidental to the primary industries will require a considerable amount of labor. These primary industries must be considered, or the country as a whole will suffer. That this labor may have to be provided for by slackening off work on railways, roads and bridges during summer and' autumn is very probable. There is no intention to exploit la'bor on behalf of those carrying on such industries, but employment on public works cannot be found for those to whom work at fair rates is offered elsewhere. It is generally recognised that it will not be wise during the continuance of the war to expend more borrowed money than is absolutely necessary. The expenditure during the financial year ended March 31, 1914 £2,94-9,992 — constituted a record, but the similar expenditure for 1914-15 was actually larger, viz., £-2,953,368, made up of £2,835, 60S under the Public Works Fund and allied special accounts, and £117,676 under the Consolidated Fund. WAYS AND MEANS. On April 1, 1914, the available ways and means for public purposes were £1,178,584'; and further funds were received as under: Under the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1913, £217,778;, under the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1914, £1,525,000; under the New Zealand Loans Act, 1908, £26,114; premium on sale of 4 per cent, debentures, £8750; transfer from revenue, £350,000; other receipts, £9422; making a gross total of £3,315,648. |

The ordinary expenditure of the year amounted to £2,557,295, charges and expenses in respect of raising loans £35,495, redemption of debentures £11,800; and other expenditure £15,296, thus bringing the total disbursements up to £2,619,886, and leaving a credit balance at the end of the year of £©95,762. For the current year it is proposed to provide additional funds as under: —Balance of authorised loan moneys, £1,476,100; proposed new loan, £2,000,000. The above, with the balance brought forward, gives a gross total of £4,171,862. The estimated expenditure for public works for the current year (excluding separate accounts having their own ways and means) amounts to £2,803,550, leaving an estimated balance of £1,368,312 to be carried forward to next year (1916-17). RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. The following sections of railway were completed and opened for traffic during the last financial, year:—Otirla to Kaikohe, 16 miles 25 chains; Kaihu to Tarawhati, 2 miles 35 chains; Cronadun to Inangahua, 13 miles; Cass to Arthur's Pass, 14 miles 65 chains; Pohokura to Whangamomona, 6 miles 13 chains; Kaiwaka to Otamatea, 2 miles 45 chains; Otoko to Matawai, 12 miles 50 chains; Big Hill to Beaumont, 5 miles 30 chains; Houipapa to Tahakopa, 17 miles 58 chains; total, 91 miles 5 chains. The following lengths arc practically completed, but have not yet been handed over to the railway authorities for traffic:—Otamatea to Maungaturoto, 4 miles 10 chains; Maunganui to Te Puke, 13 miles 4 chains; Mount Egmont branch, 2 miles 77 chains; Whangamomona to Kohuratahi, 4 miles 54 chains; Ward to Mills, 7 miles Ttf cliains. The total expenditure on railway construction and improvement work during last financial year amounted to £1,155,776, as under:— £ Construction of new lines .... 646,878 Additions to open lines 499,875 Railway Improvement Account 9,023 Stratford-Main Trunk. Since the opening of the line to Whangamomona construction work has been in progress over nine miles and a-half between the terminus and Tahora. Tlie work comprises two tunnels, road and stream diversions, and several small bridges, besides usual earthworks and culverts. One tunnel 23 chains long is finished, the other is being widened out, most of the bridges are built, and the minor works are well in hand over the whole lengtli. Rails have been laid and the line partly ballasted as far as Kohuratahi, four miles and a-half from the terminus of the open line, and a tramway lias been laid from that point to the second tunnel to transport plant, material and stores to the works, in preference to hauling over the longer and steeper route by road. Ballast material for this section of the line is brought bv train from Mount Eginont. At the eastern end the contractor for the Okahu tunnel was unable to carry on the work owing to financial difficulties; and in April last the contract, with the Department's consent, was assigned to Messrs Dillon (Limited), a< company in which most of the parties to the original contract retain an interest. The uew contractors have experienced much bad weather since they took over the work, but there is every prospect of better progress being made during the spring and summer. The contract covers two miles and a-half of formation, including the tunnel, 75 chains long. A contract has just been let for the erection of the steel superstructure of a combined road and railway bridge over the Ongarue' river, where the railway leaves the Main Trunk at Okahukura. Tin! piers will be built by the Department Six small contracts for formation beyond the tunnel are approaching completion, and the work is well in hand up to Matiere township, ten miles from the junction point. A tramway three miles in lengtli is being laid into Matiere to facilitate the transport of construction material and to keep heavy traffic off the Ohura road. Settlers' stores will be hauled over the tram line.

Mount Egmwnt Brand).-Owing to alterations in design of incline and in proposed methods of operating the quarry on the mountain, construction ■pork on this line baa been nurjjeiideiJ

during the greater part of the past year. Opunako Branch.—The line has been located from Te Roti to Op-unake, twenty-three miles distant, and construction work is in hand Dy contract and co-operative parties over the first seven miles to Kapuni Station. Bridges of substantial design will be required to carry the line over the Waingongoro and Mangatoki Rivers on the first section. Materials for concrete piers are being brought to the bridge-sites. Ohakune-Raetihi Branch. Formation work is completed for seven miles, and. is in hand over the remaining one mile fifty chains. . All the culverts are in place and piers for most of the bridges built. Steelwork for bridge superstrucure is slow in coming to hand. Platelaying is in progress, and ballasting will follow m a month or two.

South Island Main Trunk.—Platelaying and ballasting over a length of eight miles terminating at Mills Station » approaching completion under contract, and with a little trimming and finishing work this section will be ready for opening. Formation work, mostly of a light nature, is proceeding at a moderate rate on the section beyond Mills. The country traversed here is bare and sandy, and extensive plantations of marramgrass have to be made to protect the railway banks and cuttings from drifting sand. A further lengtli of thirteen miles, from Kekerangu to the Clarence River, will be included in .this year's Railways Authorisation Bill.

Total Appropriations for Railway Construction.—ln addition to the votes already mentioned, an appropriation of £IOOO is required t,o provide for old land claims and other liabilities on construction account, £SOO for surveys of projected new lines of railway, and £IOO,OOO for permanent-way materials. The total vote proposed this year for railway construction amounts to £700,000,

Other Railway Works.—The expenditure during the financial year out of the vote for additions to open lines amounted to £524,391, and out, of tliis sum £307,385 was spent on' rolling-stock, tarpaulins, workshops, machinery, Westinghouse brake equipment and petrol electric car. The balance of £217,006 covered expenditure on improvements to wharves, water services, station accommodation and yards, engine depots, Parnell tunnel duplication, installation of tablet, telegraph, and telephone facilities also signalling and interlocking plant. Grade improvement works on • the North Island Main Trunk line involved an expenditure of £29,854, and the Mechanics Bay reclamation accounted for £37,999. The latter work forms an integral part of the new Auckland station rearrangements and railway scheme. The vote proposed for the current year amounts to £500,000. ROADS AND BRIDGES. The total amount provided on last financial year's appropriations under all votes and accounts (including the Consolidated Fund Vote for Maintenance, but excluding the Land for Settlement Account—loading), was £1,070,300, The amount authorised for expenditure under the same votes and accounts during the year, added to the unexpended balance of authorities at 31st March, 1914, totalled £1,197,401. The expenditure for the twelve months amounteu iu £ 600,037, leaving an unexpended balance at 31st March last of £531,164. In regard to expenditure on roads, etc., works under the Land for Settlements Account, the money is, of provided by special loan raised on the security of each block of land, and is not shown on the appropriations. Under this head the amount placed at the disposal of this Department by the Minister of Lands for expenditure during the year (including the unspent balance at 31st March, 1914), amounted to £17,360, whilst the expenditure for twelvemonths amounted to £8,536.

For the current year tjie provision made for roads and bridges has not been limited on account of prevailing conditions, but it must, of course, be understood that the authorisation of expenditure will be dependent upon the Government's ability to raise the necessary loan for public works purposes. Moreover, it is not intended that tlic ways and means provided shall be expended bv 31st 'March, 1915, but they are expected to suffice till 31st December, 1918, or even, if necessary, to 31st March, 1917. TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS' FOR ROADWORKS. The appropriations last year were as under:—' £ Roads, etc. 557,700 Backblock roads, etc 201,000 GoldfleldS roads, etc 53,300' Improved farm settlement roads ) 10,000 Opening up Crown Lands for Settlement Account 173,300 National Endowment Account 40,000 Maintenance of roads (Consolidated Fund) 45,000 Total £1,080,300 The provision for the current year is as under:— K Roads, etc 300,000 Backblock roads, etc 100,000 Roads on goldfields 40,000 Improved farm settlements .. 5,C10 Land for Settlements Account 130,000 National Endowment Account 40,000 New Hutt Road 250 Maintenance of roads (Consolidated Fund) 50,000 Total £725,860 DEVELOPMENT OF MINING. The value of the mineral output for the year amounted to £2,752,730, being a decrease as compared with the output of the previous year. This was on.y to be expected, however, in view of the prohibition o£„ the export of certain minerals during the term of the war. The output of coal was the highest yet recorded, being 2,-275,51*3 tons, an increase of 387,588 tons over the output of the previous year. Splendid marble is being produced from the Nelson district, and to aid ill the development of this industry, assistance is being granted by way of loan to enable the stone to be econmicaliy transported to the port of shipment. The expenditure under the heading of mining development during the last year was £2384, and a vote of £IO,OOO is proposed to be taken this year. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Tiie total expenditure on public buildings during the last financial year amounted to £590,502. For the current year the following appropriations are proposed:— £ New buildings (Public Works Fund) 427,050 Maintenance works (Consolidated Fund) 70,350 Maintenance works, schools (Consolidated Fund) 102,150 Total

GENERAL. Tie new (Parliament Buildings sgajn ahsorbed the largest item of expenditure under this heading, but the work has been delayed owing to difficulty in obtaining suitable marble. This difficulty has now been overcome, and as the marble will soon be in Wellington, it is hoped that the work will then be carried on with more expedition than has hitherto been possible. The new Departmental Buildings at Gisborne were completed and occupied during the year. One substantial addition was made to the government Printing Office, and another one is in progress. The proposed vote for the current year includes items for the Parliament Buildings and Printing Office additions. JUDICIAL. Police Stations.—New stations were erected at Ahaura, Charleston, Coalgate, Kaitangata, Martinborough, Ngaruawa'hia, Northcotc, Patutahi, Raurimu, Towomaru Bay, and Whangamomona. Properties were also purchased at Mount Eden, Hamilton, and Mount Roskill, and police residences were built at Dunedin and Opotiki. New police headquarters and police-stations in Wellington are in progress. POST AND TELEGRAPH. (The expenditure on buildings for Post and Telegraph purposeij last year amounted to £72,861, being £60,833 for new buildings and £12,023 for main, tenance of existing ones. HOSPITALS. An expenditure of £979 out of last year's vote was incurred in providing accommodation for special cases at various general hospitals. On the current year's estimates a vote appears for the same purpose. AGRICULTURE. On account of the conditions existing as a result of the war some works of importance, but not urgent, wire held over. It has, however, been decided to provide additional accommodation for learners at both the Moumahaki and Weraroa Experimental Farms, to instal a water supply at Moumahaki, and to provide additional buildings at the Moumahaki and Tauranga. Experimental Farms, also to continue the land-dram-age operations at Ruakui'a Farm of Instruction. SCHOOL BUILDINGS. The expenditure out of the Public Works Fund on school buildings during I the year was; £ 122,940, of which about £117,500 was paid in grants to Education Boards and other governing bodies for public schools, teachers' residences, training colleges, technical and secondary schools, and university colleges.

Demands for school accommodation must necessarily be met without delay as they arise, and consequently there is always a large outstanding liability on this account which must be provided for in the estimates of the year. The total amount of this liability fluctuates according to the time occupied in the prosecution of the various works authorised, and to meet this liability it is proposed to vote £120,000 for the current year. WORKERS* DWELLINGS. The expenditure authorised last year, for some two hundred dwellings, was £IOO,OOO. Of this amount £68,275 was paid during the year, and the balance of the expenditure appears in this year's accounts. In response to further applications the erection of an additional hundred dwellings has been decided upon, for which the estimated expenditure is £50,000. DEVELOPMENT OP WATER POWER. In November last, the plant for the development at Lake Coleridge of electrical energy on a large scale was formally opened, but it was not until March of this year that the continuous service started, since when it lias been in full operation. The plant has worked smoothly and efficiently, without serious interruption, and the country will learn with satisfaction that this important commercial venture on the part of the Government shows every promise of becoming a financial as well as an engineering success. The rapid developments at Lake Coleridge have monopolised the efforts of the Government's electrical engineers during the past year; but now that this scheme has reached a practical stage, attention will be directed to invyit'ga tions to doe'ib the best means of providing an adequate supply of electrical energy to serve the North Island. Numerous water power licenses have been grunted during the year to local authorities wishing to develop locil sources of power. TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS. The expenditure under this heading amounted to £8,232, compared with £14,089 for th-» previous year. The sum of £2971 was spent in completing and furnishing tlij new hostel at tne Hermitage, where the i bief guide's cottage was also completed. Improvements at Helensville and to electrical works at Rotorua accounted for £720 an-1 £570, respectively. Adiit ; ons to the Rotorua Sanatorium cost £671, and improvementments at Waitomo Caves £SBS. The expenditure on the propped new Sanatorium at Hanmer and drainage works at Rotorua was held over. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. The expenditure on telegraph and telephone extension during the year amounted to £288,395. Among the larger works undertaken may be mentioned the construction of the following land lines, viz., Opotiki-Cape Runaway, CambridgeRotorua, Taumarunui-Ohura metallic circuit, Pahiatua-Palmerston North metallic circuit. iPalmei'ston North-Wai-pawa telephone line, Waitara-Stratford, Waitara-New Plymouth, New Plymouth telephone service, Wellington-Masterton metallic circuit, Waikaia-Waiau, and Sockburn-Cliristehurch underground. No | less than twelve new exchanges were opened, and the number of exchange connections increased by 4846. Three hundred and ninety miles of pole, line and 2130 miles of wire were added to the telegraph and inter-urban telephone system, and 515 miles of pole line and 34,325 miles of wire to the telephone exchange local systems. One thousand six hundred and thirty-seven miles of telegraph and inter-urban telephone lines were overhauled and reconstructed. During the year, 46 coin-in-slot telephones were installed, making a total of 139 slot telephones open for public use. Motor-lorries, suitably fitted up, were obtained and are now being used for general construction work. The substitution of underground cable for aerial cable and the conversion of earthworking exchanges for the metallic circuit system aro proceeding steadily. On account of the abnormal conditions caused by the war some delay has been experienced in obtaining equipment for automatic telephone exchanges, hut the provision of suitable building accommodation and underground cable equipment hat biea iteadily prijwedad with.

The necessary apparatus and material for the re-ere<tion of the wireless station at Samoa were sent forward with the first Expeditionary Force. This station has been reconstructed, and is now being operated by officers of the Department who accompanied the Forces, The proposed vote for the current year amounts to £327,000, made up as under. '£ Automatic installations ..,. 110,000 Submarine cables 1,000 New lines _ 30,000 New exchanges and connecting new subscribers 50,000 Material ■ 136,000 Total' ......v... —..... '£327,000 LIGHTHOUSES. The works undertaken during the year were: Completion of lighthouse on Channel Islet, Hauraki Oulf; the new Marine Department store at Pipitea Point; the continuation of the erection of the tower for the automatic light on Karori Rock, which is now almost finished; and the improvement of the road to Godley Head Lighthouse. The estimated amount required for the carrying out and completion of the works already authorised is £2595, including an additional amount for the construction of an automatic light on Flat Rock, and the cost of a heavy crane ror the Marine Department store. In conclusion, the ability to give effect to the proposals set forth in the Statement will depend on the response of the' public to the loan proposals of the Minister of Finance. The great importance of developing the resources of the Dominion by constructing roads, bridges, and railways will certainly not he lost sight of, but it is necessary to emphasise the fact that some reduction in the rate of expenditure on such works must be expected under the very trying conditions consequent on the war.