THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 22, 1909. OUR PUBLIC WORKS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9673, 22 December 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 22, 1909. OUR PUBLIC WORKS.

The Public > Works Statement submitted to Parliament on Moiiday evening last by the Hon. R. McKerzie was in some respects of a satisfactory [character. During last financial year the expenditure amounted to £2,445,324, ana during the current year it is estimated that £2,478,368 will be expended. So far as the amount ot the expenditure is concerned the Government, on the face of things, intend to pursue a progressive policy, but it is possible that a careful analysis of the figures would reveal the fact that the general trend of the Government's operations in regard to public works approaches to something that is the reverse of progressive. The unsatisfactory feature o£ the Statement is one that is common to its predecessors, and it may be described as absence of policy. A comprehensive, praiseworthy policy in regard to our national works is entirely lacking. Public works are promoted in a haphazard manner, and astute members succeed in obtaining grants for their respective districts that very often should not, in the national interests, be made. The Minister cannot be blamed, to any serious extent, for such a depluraDle state of affairs. The roads and ridges members have developed into a national nuisance, if not worse, and the Minister for Public Works is, practically, powerless to withstand their malign influences. Apart from land settlement, there is no department the operations of which are more important than those of the Public Works Department, The affairs of the Department could not command too much attention, and the policy to be pursued could not be too carefully planned. The Department should have a policy clearly in view, and the main plank of that policy should be rapid railway construction, districts most in need, of nail-

ways from a national viewpoint receiving first attention. Now the estimate for the current year for railway construction ia £1,400,000. This is admittedly a large sum, but when the numerous lines, which the Government have in course of construction, are considered it will be fairly clear that the result at the end of the year will De that the Dominion will not have benefited to the extent i hat it shoukl by so lartru an expenditure. Important and payable lines shnuld be finished as speedily as funds will permit, and branch lines, though they may tend to render the Government popular in various electorates, should not be undertaken uiui! all main arterial lines are finished. It may be objected that nn Govern • ment could follow such a policy and remain m office, and the truth of such a contention may well cause one to question whether a very grave error is not being committed in allowing any party to handle the public works fund. The most highminded and virtuous of Governments must at times be tempted to use such a fund for political purposes. The present system places enormous power ?n the hands of the Government of the day, and, unfortunately, under the present Administration a principle of largely satisfying the demands oi the most clamorous memI; bers appears to be recognised. The | Government have been accused of favouring electorates that return supporters of the Government to Parliament, but be the accusation true ox otherwise, the general rottenness of the present system must be admitted by any impartial person wEo is at all familiar with it. No electorate should receive more than it is entitled to in the wav of public expenditure and every electorate should be prepared to make some sacrifices in order that national ends may. be promoted thereby. That such a state of affairs can ever come about under the existing regime is an utter impossibility, and, consequently, urgent need of reform is extremely patent. A public works board, entirely beyond the reach of political influence, and comprised of experienced experts, , has been suggested many times, and a Bill designed to effect the establishment of such a board has been introduced into the House on more than one occasion by Mr A. L. Herdraan, but, naturally enough, perhaps, the Government have: Bot taken a favourable view of the proposed measure. A Public Works Board might not prove a auccesa, and' the road to reform may be in the direction of enlarging and altering the powers of local bodies, and In making each electorate more dependent upon its own exertions and sacrifices for the progress: or its public works. Our own view iB that a system ci local body reform would prove a desirable change, but until some decide) step of reform- • atory character is taken the Public Works Statement will always possess unsatisfactory features, and there wili ever be the fact that many small sums, large in the aggregate, are being little better than frittered away. \