PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10451, 17 October 1911, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

A BRIEF SUMMARY

By Telegraph — Press Association.

> WELLINGTON, Last Night

The Public Works Statement was delivered by the Hon. It. McKenzie in the House of Representatives at a late hour to-night. The Minister stated that the public works expenditure last year, though not as large as the previous year, was no less thaw £2,190,954. The total expenditure in the construction of railways up to 1890 was £11,975,098. From 1891 to 1911 it was £8,534,311. The Statement also gives a comparative return of _the amount expended on roads, immigration, purchase of Native lands, etc., over the same period. The new Huttl-oad had cost £82,729.

The amount to the credit of the Public Works Fund on March 31st, 1910, was £3,103,614. The total disbursements for the year amounted to £1,963,569, leaving a credit balance' attlrcre.od of-the year of £1,140,045. , r For the current year, with a proposed loan of £1j500,000, thel-e would be-A sum. of £3,921,695; available. ■.-/■■ 'i. ,'-The estimated expenditure for pul> he worksior. the current year amounted to £2,921,000, leaving an estimated balance of £1,000,695 to be carried forward to next year. During the year 91 miles and 35 chains of railway had been opened, while a number of other sections were nearing completion. The total expenditure on railway works last rear amounted to £1,183,933. :

! The Statement gives details of the work done on the respective sections of railway during the year. A vote of £15,000 is included in the estimate* to make a commencement with.work on the East Coast Main Trunk railway. It is intended to ask the House to authorise a section of the line from Napier towards Gisborne. A vote of £20,000 is asked for, and the work of surveying has been put in hand. The expenditure on the different sections of the Midland railway 'during the year amounted to £151,628, and for the current year an appropriation of £195,000 is asked for. The total proposed vote for railway construction purposes during the current year is £1,083,000. A sum of £248,075 was spent in providing additional rolling stock and workshop during: last year," and £112,851 in tablet appliances, signals, etc. •.!.'•.;■■'■'.'.•.>'■ : : '%\ ; i. •; The total^expenditure l under 'jfche heading "AdditionS;to open.; lines,'' was; £360,926. The amount proposed far ; ib-hr puEpeee in \ja& cttfrent yeariisl £370,000, of which- £225,00 Q. is .for, new rolling stock. Much preliminary work has. been carried out in connection with tihe Lake Coleridge water scheme, and, tenders will shortly be called for the first instalment of .the plant. It is estimated that an expenditure of about £375,000 wilt be required to efficiently instal a 10,000 horse power plant. Other available sources of electrical energy are receiving attention. Preliminary steps are being taken to develop power from the Wairoa Falls, in the Whangarei district, and from Lake Waikaremoana.

It is proposed to call tenders for the electrification of the Lyttelton to GhristchurchJ railway, and-i inquiries will be made concerning the possibility of electrifying other sections of railway. -', . _, -., ~-.., Surveys and exploration in connection with the irrigation' works in Otago have been vigorously proceeded with during the year. The total expenditure on public buildings last year amounted to £432,750, being a. considerable increase on that of the previous year. For the current year, an expenditure of £593,277 is proposed. Provision is made for new Government buildings at Hamilton, Gisbornei, New Plymouth, and Masterton, and for making a commencement with the new Parliament Buildings in Wellington.

An additional vote is asked for the Masterton Courthouse, . amongSft others. The expenditure during the year on the new General Post Offices a.t Auckland and Wellington amounted to £66,777. ; A considerable expenditure is proposed in improving-the mental hospital accommodation. During the year a sum 0f£124,9;t6 was expended but of the public works fund on school - buildings, and £57,571 out of the Consolidated Fund. A largely-increased provision has been -made for tlie purchase of sites for workers' dwellings. n : Reference is made to the money expended in erecting hospitals and in improvements .on the State Farms. Provision is made for the purchase of land for an experimental farm in the South Island. In connection with the roads and bridges, a sum of £292,116 had been offered to local bodies during the yeax. Some few local bodies declined to take up the grants offered them. During last year 362 miles of dray roads were constructed, and 195 miles metalled. The total appropriation for works last yeir amounted to £783,485. The provision for the current year is £788,350. A vote of £25.000 is asked for the development of goldfields, and £15,000 for improving the tourists resorts. The expenditure on telegraph extension during the year amounted to £111,868. . . ■ . . . A considerable expenditure is Verng made on wireless telegraph stations," Reference is made to lighthouiie, hanbour works, etc., and also to.,the proposed work to be undertaken by Government settlers under the new land selume, and iri the developmnt of the iron industry.