PUBLIC WORKS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10715, 19 October 1912, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS

THi: aIINISTiuiX- ri STATEMENT. A LEAM YEAR. Tho Public Works Statement was delivered by tho Minister for PublicWorks (the Hon W. Fraser) in the House of Representatives last night. Mr Fraser, in his introductory remarks, said:—"As I only assumed office as Minister of Public Works <•') 10th July, it is scarcely necessary to state that all references in this 6:atement to operations during the last financial year are strictly departmental. As regards the future, howevor, I desire to offer somo remarks. I" my opinion, to givo the settlers of tiie Dominion access to their holding,** !y means of roads should bo the !ir.-t consideration in any scheme of public works. I have no de-ire to n: nimise the value of railways to tlio Dominion,- but these are of secondary importance if the settlers cannot reach them. Now, road making in New Zealand is difficult and expensive, owing to the configuration of the country and to the absence in many localities of suitable metal. Hence, considerable sums havo to be provided each year for this class of work. In view of the fact that the unexpcM'lcd balance of authorities for roads { and bridges on 31st March, 1912, was, £460,367, and that between Ist April j last and 3ist July further authorities ] 1 amounting to £145,796 were issued, 1 ] found myself at the latter dato faced I with commitments totalling £612,U'3 for roads and bridges alone, without allowing for the provision requiring fco be made for applications for now votes. These applications now amount to over a million -and a half. Tho total provision for roads and bridges for the current year is very similar in amount to that of last year. The total provision for railway construction for the year is £847,500, which is £53,789 more than was expended on new railways last year." THE YEAR'S EXPENDITURE ) The total expenditure of the year on public works was not only in excess of that of the previous year, but was the largest in any single year for over thirty years, and amounted tc the very large sum of —rix., £2,387,411 out «of the Public Works Fund and allied special accounts, and £88,745. out of the Con- | solidated Fund. ■ WAYS AND MEANS. At the 31st March, 1911, the liable ways and means for public, works purposes wore £1,140,045, and further funds were received as under: —Under the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1910, £181,650; under the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1911, £450,000,: under t'he New Zealand Loans Act, 1003, £66,950; transfer from Consolidated Fund, £500,000; miscellaneous receipts, £12,150; making a gross total of £2,350,795. The ordinary expenditure of the yea if amounted t<o £2,200,745, and ! charges and expenses in respect of J raising loans £67,470, thus bring-ncr \ the total disbursements up to £2,268,215, and leaving a credit balance at tho end of the year of £82,580. For tho current year it is proposed to provide additional funds as under: —Balance of loan of 1911, £1,050,000; transfer from Consolidated Fund, £750,000; proposed new loan, £1,750,000. The above, with the balance brought' forward, gives a gross total of £3, 632,580. Tho estimated expenditure for public works for the current year (excluding separate accounts having their own ways and means) amounts to £2,748,000, leaving an estimated balance of £884,580 to be carried forward to next year. In addition t.) the above we have authority to raise the undermentioned sums: —Under; the Aid to Water-power Works Act, j 1910, £500,000; for irrigation-works ! (section 20, Appropriation Act, 1910), £100,000; under the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Act, 1910 (balance), £50,000. RAILWAYS. Tho' Minister dealt hi detail with i the. different ralways in course of construction. Referring to the NapierGisborno line, he said: —At the Napier end the line has been authorised for. about fifteen miles, located for about ten miles, and tho light formation along the Western Spit was commenced in February last. Up to the J present about six miles of formation have been completed, while work is in hand over another mile, and borings have been made to test the nature of sites for the bridge to carry the line across the Inner Harbour. As the work that has been in band on this lino will be useless until the bridge over the harbour has been built, and liable to deterioration by the weather and wandering stock, it has been decided to suspend it for the prosent. It can easily be resumed when the bridge is approaching completion. ROADS ON GOLDFIELDS. The total authorisations last year under this head amoxmted to £97 U i on account which a vote 0f'£55,3?0 | was .taken. The vote was made up of i no less than 400 different items, so that the average amount voted to each item was only about £l2O. -The expenditure during the year amounted to £41,067. It is necessary to co ntinue to assist local authorities by means of grants and subsidies towards the construction of roads and traoks to facilitate the opening-tip of our mineral lands and to enable prospecting operations to be carried on and a *iubsta.ntial vote for this purpose is included in tho estimates. I found on closely examining the items of last year's vote that several of them ■were really riot- for roads in connection with mining enterprises at all, and such votes, where it was necessary to renew them, have accordingly been transferred to the general roads rote or to the 1 vote for backblockv: roads. TOTAL 'APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1 ROAD-WORKS. ( Lasl year's appropriations were a;: [ W*«l»rßoads, tt«., £297,9455' baok-

block roads, £301,545; roads on goldfields, £55,320; opening up Crown Lands for Settlement Account, £IOO,000; National Endowment Account, £19,350; Lnnd for Settlement Account, £14,900; ' new Hutt Road, ' £14,000; maintenance of roads (Consolidated Fund), £35,000; total, £'838,000. I The provision for the current year } is as under:—Roads, etc., £300,000; 1 backblook roads, £200,000; roads on I goldriolds, £50.000 ; opening up Grown Lands for Settlement Account, £IOO,000; National Endowment AVcount £19,200; Lands for Settlements Account, £20,000; now Hutt Road. £5300; maintenance of roads (Consolidated* Fund), £40,000; total, £73t.r,0(). DEVELOPMENT OF GOLOFIELDS. Tlie amount expended last year on the development of our goldfields was £21,215, and a vote of £13,000 is proposed for the current year. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Under this head the principal expenditure occurred in connection with { the new Departmental Buildings rvb (Ohristchuroh and Invoroargill, while I smaller sums were expended in connection with the Parliament Buildings, anttthe two Government Houses, etc. The current year's vote provides a further substantial instalment on ae- } count of the .Ohristchuroh Doiwrtmental Buildings, and also £36.000 in ; connection with the new Parliament Buildings; also smaller sums for the Department.a! Buildings at Tin mil ton, New Plymouth. Stratford, Blenheim, I and Holritika. and sundry other items. The alteration of the grounds in connection with the proposed new Parliament Buildings and the ronrrangemont of the surrounding streets is well in hand and in some respects approaching completion, and. the detailed plans of the buildings themselves are nearly ready, a portion of the plans having already been placed on exhibition in the present temporary Parliament Buildings. The founi dations for the first section of the I building are being, carried out by day I labour under the supervision of the j Public Works Department and are | well advanced: It is proposed to in- , vite tenders for the erection of the i building when the foundations are complete. The Government is in hopes that the first section of the building will be completed and available, for occupation for,the session of 1915. SCHOOL BUILDINGS. The amount expended out of tTie Public Works Fund on school buildings during latet financial year was £89,535. On this amount, over £78,000 was paid in tlie form of grants to the respective governing bodies for the erection and equipment of public schools and teachers' residences, secondary schools, anrl technical schools. HOSPITALS. Under the heading of "Hospitals and Charitable Institutions" there was an expenditure of £12,745 on new buildings and additions, principally in connection with the St. Helens Hospital at Wellington. T!?e items on this year's estimates total £17.800, on 'account of which a vote of £€'soo :s required.'

AGRICULTURE. The steps taken by the Agricultural Department to provide a course of training for lads in practical farming; at the experimental farms have proved popular. At Ruakiira, where tno scheme was inaugurated, all the available accommodation -has been taken up, and there are numerous applications on hand for vacancies. Some expenditure was necessary last year in completing and equipping the buildings; but, with the demand for places, it: will be necessary to consider the provision of additional accommodation. , Further drainage-work was carried out on the farm. Owing to the wet nature of the land, expenditure on drainage will bo necessary for some time 'to come. At W'aerenga. Experimental Farm the provision of an adequate and pennanent water-supply was completed. The, Department's lease from the Native owners of portion of the Moumahaki Experimental Farm ran out last year, and.it wasdecided to purolia.se the area and add it permanently to the farm. Considerable improvements had been effected by the Department on the land acquired. At Weraroa Experimental Farm the stumping of paddocks previously under bush was continued, thus increasing the area available for cultivation. Some alterations wore carried out with a. view to providing accommodation for a few learners. A fumigation-shed was erected at Invereargill in order to enable the fumigation of fruit and plants to lie carried out there, thus avoiding the necessity for sending consignments to Dunedin for this ' purpose. . DEVELOPMENT OF WATERPOWER. After dealing at length with tho progress of the installation of tho eleotric-power plant at Lake Coleridge, the Minister said :—lnvestigations with regard to the most suitable sources of supply in tho North Island have been and are still being made. The question i s being dealt

with in a comprehensive manner witr a view to making" eiectric power generally available throughout the Island, not only in the cities but ako in country districts, and for the operation of light railways and ultimately main-line railways. The- sources of power investigated so far are Lake Waikaremoana., and the Hutt, Makuri, Waiohine and Tauherenikan Rivers, but as several additional sources still have to he examined in detail no definite and final proposals can yet be drawn up. Last year's vote for development of water-power was £50,006, but only £9082 was expended. For the current year an appropriation of £B-5,000 is proposed. RAILWAY ELECTRIFICATION. Complete investigations have been made and specifications drawn up for the electrification of the Christchurch--1 Lyttelton line so that tenders can be invited for this work without delay as •soon as the power from Lake Coleridge is available. Similar investigations are in hand in connection with the Wellington-Upper Hutt Railway in conjunction with the electric-pnwin-proposals for the North Island. OTHER MATTERS. Reference is made to . irrigation, tourist and health resorts, telegraph extension, light-houses, harbour works, c+c. GROSS TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS. In addition to the votes specifically referred to, the estimate? make provision for the undermentioned services:—Departmental, £54,000; Immigration, £20,000; Lands Improvement, , £49.0-00; Contingfjrit. Defence, £55,000; thus bringing the total amount of the proposed appropriations, including special accounts, up to £3,019,500, as against £3,265,317 voted and £2,819,941 actually expended last year. CONCLUSION. I luivo endeavoured to distribute the funds at my disposal in such directions as will, in my opinio!], conduce most effectively to assist settlement throughout the Dominion, having regard especially to the pressing requirements of the several localities. Whilst impressed with the advisability of expediting the construction of the several works specified in the estimates it is imperative not to lose sight of the fact that only one-hnif of our ways and means are immediately available, possession of the remainder being dependent on raising tho proposed loan of £1.750,000. The heavy commitments for roads and bridges alone, to which I have drawn j attention, involves responsibilities which cannot be ignored when requisitions for new authorities are being made, and in view of the disquieting aspect of affairs in Eastern Europe it will be necessary for the Ca- j binet to closely observe the financial pulse of tile Dominion.