THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 74, 31 August 1878, Page 3

THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

{Continued from our last] I have heard it objected that now, when the Land Fund has been colomahsed it is unfair to the Colony as a whole to alienate large portions of its landed estate for local purposes. To me, such an objection seems, if I may be permitted so to say, simply absurd. We are not alienating landed estates—-we are changing the form of parts of it, and thereby ' greatly- increasing the value of the whole. If portions of land go, so far as the Colony is concerned, the railways constructed out of the proceeds remain ; and if we manage our affairs wisely we shall derive a much larger income from these railways than we ever did or could derive from these portions of land. We do not propose to deal exceptionally with the proceeds ot land set apart for the construction ot railways, Those proceeds will be dealt with as ordinary revenue, while, from the enhanced value of the lands to be affected by the lines so constructed, we may fairly assume it as a fact that the ordinary revenue will year by year be greatly in-

creased. SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS—AIDS TO THE PUBLIC WORKS FUND. Summing up the proposals I have had the honor to submit, they will be found to involve an expenditure for railways in the North Island of L 3,733,000, and in the Middle Island of L 4,662,000 altogether, L 8,385.000. As 1 have already observed, the estimates under which these figures have been arrived at are to a certain - extent approximate. My belief is that they are more over the mark than under it, and that, with judicious and careful administration, unless circumstances alter very much with the next few years, it will be found that a much less sum will suffice. We propose that the expendituie shall be extended over five years, which is, in m3 r opinion, the shortest period within which we could carry out work to this extent, unless we are prepared for the importation of labour to a greater extent than can be readily a-sorbed in the permanent settlement ti the country. Cm object will be so to regulate the administration of the Waste lands of the Crown as to afford every inducement and facility to men who labour in the construction of railways to invest their earnings in land, by laying off allotments for sale along the various lines as they progress. I am disposed to think that much may he done in this direction, and that a fair proportion of the money expended on public works may find its way back to the Treasury. Out of the loan authorised last session there remained on the 10th June available for public works about L 2,000,000. If we add the public works fund from ordinary revenue during the next five years, say L 3,500,000, the amount just as available will be increased to L 0.000,000, and there will remain about L 3,000,000 to be raised by further loans, in order to meet the estimated cost of the whole of our proposals. It may perhaps be asked, is not L 3,500,000 too large a sum to expect to be spared from the revenue '? Is the revenue likely to be in a position to meet speh a demand ? In older that the hon members may be enabled to form an w : opinion as to this, I shall enumerate the / different areas of Crown lands the value ' of which will be specially affected by the proposed railway, and the sale of which may be added to the contingent upon these lines before constructed. In the Middle Island, the Otago central to Albeit Town will pass almost entirely through Crown land, and open up the most valuable public estate in the Colony. It will affect an area of 2,250,000 acres, all in the hands of the Crown. Amberley to Brunnerton will pass through nearly 300.000 acres freehold, and render available 400,000 acres of Crown land. Greymouth to Hokitika will affect 85,000 acres of forest land belonging to the Crown. Canterbury subsidiary main line will pass chiefly through freehold land, but as it cuts across all the valleys at the base of the hill country, its construcfon will be of considerable value to the settlement of those valleys, and render more accessible an area of Crown land of 500,000 acres. South Ashburton to Ashburton Forks and Albury extension will enhance the value of 300,000 acres. Fortrose to Edendale : A preliminary survey of this line has been made in terms of the resolution of the House last session, and land has been reserved for its construction in accordance with the same resolution. It will promote the profitable occupation of 120,000 acres of land, 40,000 of which are in the hands of the Crown. Otautau to Night Caps : This is an extension of inland" line from Riverton. It will render available a very large coal field and promote the cultivation of over 50,000 acres of fine agricultural land, 10,000 of which is in the hands of the Crown. Clutha to Gatlin’s river is the cc omen cement of a line which passes through a district containing 60,000 acres of fine agricultural freehold, and will lead to the occupation of a territory which contains 60.000 acres of Crown and chiefly forest lands, Waimea to Switzers opens up 200,000 acres of feri’le land, much of which is ready for the plough, and all in the hands of the Crown. Lumsden to Marrow opens up 200,000 acres of Crown land of the finest quality, a great portion of which will, I believe, he occupied and cultivated very shortly after it is rendered accessible by rail Shag Valley bra cli is a line which was intended to have been made by the Provincial Government of Otago. Surveys and working plans were prepared, and public tenders applied for. It commands an agricultural and pastoral district of 45.000 acres, of which 10,000 acres Delong to the Crown. It will he one of the best paying feeders to the main line between Dunedin and Oamaru. It will, moreover, greatly facilitate access to the important goldmining and rapidly increasiug agricultural districts of Macraes and Hyde. It will thus be seen that an area of nearly 400,000,000 acres of Crown land in the Middle Island will be affected by the proposed lines. Much 0 f this land, if accessible by rail * and in the market now, would realise five pound an acre and upwards. Probably we shall not be beyond the mark in estimating that it will realise to the State, at a moderate computation, little short of the whole estimated cost of the railway—viz, L 4,650,00 —now proposed to be made in the Middle Island. It As regards Crown land in the North f • Tsland, I have firs l of all to direct the I attention of hon members to the fact that I 120,000 acres of the best land on the I -.vest co r.st portion of the confiscated

territory is now being surveyed for sale. do not wish, to raise the expectations of hon members unduly, but I believe that I am warranted in reckoning that from this quarter alone (iirespective of the large area of land already acquired and under negotiation in tlie same locality) we may expect to receive a net revenue of threequarters of a million sterling. In addition to these are very large areas of land in the Thames and Waikato districts, which will at once acquire a greatly increased value from the prospect of railway communication being likely to be opened between Grahamstown and Waikato. Other large blocks of land in the Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay, and Wellington districts, will shortly be available, and we shall have the gratification of beholding the North Island, for the first time for many years, yielding a substantial land revenue. For more particular information as to area, locality, and probable valuation of our North Island land Estate, I would refer hon members to the usual Statement on Native Lands, which will shortly be made by ray colleague, the Native Minister. In reference to such of those lands as are situated upon the west coast of this Island, forming part of our confiscated territory, I have a proposal to make to the House, which, while it may appear to be a considerable modification, is not a reversal of the Financial Arrangements Act of last session, is really a means of giving a practical effect to those arrangements. These lands have been acquired at an expense of blood and treasure, which, in our opinion, justify exceptional treatment in appropriating the proceeds. In addition to the 25 per cent, payable to the New Plymouth Harbour Board, the County in which they are situated, in accordance with the legislation of last session, would receive 20 per cent, of the amount realised from the sale, while the Colony, which had already paid so heavily for the land, would be called upon to provide the means of constructing the main line of railway. We propose, then, to apply 15 per cent, of the 20 per cent, otherwise payable tc the County, to the construction of the railway through the district. As land will shortly be in the market there will be a considerable sum at no distant date specially avaiable for this work, which can be commenced immediately. The County will in this way receive the whole of 20 per cent., while the Colony will be assisted in the work which will contribute so materially to enhance the value of property in the district, and to increase the financial resources of the Colony. Assuming these proposals to be approved by the Legislature, it becomes an important question—What is to be our procedure with regard to the works not already sanctioned 1 The House will, of course, recognize the impossibility of coming to any conclusion on such a matter which can be satisfactory to all. Each district in the Colony believes that its claim to be provided with railways at the cost of the State ranks at least as high as any other district ; and none, probably, will admit that any such claim ought to be met before its own. This, in truth, is a great difliculty, which the House by its past legislation has brought upon itself. That difficulty commenced from the moment when the Legislature repealed that cardinal condition o c the Public Works policy, that in the event of the proceeds of any railway failing to meet interest and sinking fund on the first cost of its construction, property in the district should be mled to make up the deficiency. The difficulty is one which I confess I cannot solve. As things stand, the Government are desirous to distribute to the best advantage whatever funds may be available for the construction of public works, and to do this as fairly as possible under the circumstances. We shall endeavour to carry on as nearly as may be simultaneously the various works that may be authorised, and to apportion the expenditure each year in such directions as shall seem most likely to promote the speedy settlement and beneficial occupation of the waste lands of the countyy. Much of the difficulty uf the situation arises from the fact that here in New Zealand we are expected to do in a few years what it has hitherto taken centuries elsewhere to accomplish. A few hundred thousands of people are bent upon doing in a lifetime that which in the past has been the work of millions of men during generations. I need scarcely say that there are lines of railway in each Island besides those embodied in my proposals, the importance of which are fully recognised by the Government, and which we should have been glad to have included. The present proposal involves an expenditure of L 1,677,000 a-year until the lines mentioned are completed, and if we can come to an arrangement as between ourselves, and an honourable understanding which ought to be held as binding as the laws of the Medes and Persians, that upon the completion cf these lines a similar amount shall continue to be expended upon productive railways only. It is a mere question of time when all the Hnd throughout the Colony which it is required to occupy and render available by means of railway communication shall be so rendered available. There are at present throughout the Colony nearly 100 miles which are being taken in hand under the provisions of the District Railways Act of last session, and it is believed that, by slightly amending that Act, advantage will be taken of its provisions to a much larger extent, and the Government will thereby be relieved of constructing many lines which sooner or later must otherwise devolve upon it. I look upon this as one of the most gratifying features in the future railway policy of New Zealand.

LOCAL WORKS. In referring to local works —roads and bridges—Mr Macandrew stated that the government were clearly of opinion that they ought to be wholly developed by local bodies, by whom the requisite funds must be found. L 268,000 had been promised during previous sessions for local works of this kind, and these promises would be kept, and then the account would be closed. Roads in Native districts must, however, be specially considered, and a vote of L 58,500 would be asked for this object. A considerable sum will appear on the Estimates for Public Buildings throughout the Colony. The Hon ]\fr Stout, after the conclusion of the Statement, announced that the Government had advised his Excellency to withdraw from sale all Crown Lands near, the projected linos.