I

1919. NEW ZEALAND

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. BY THE HON. SIR WILLIAM ERASER, Kt. Bach., MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

Mr. Speaker,— I regret to say that the scarcity of labour was as apparent during last financial year as it was during the previous one. It is true that as the soldiers returned to New Zealand a slight improvement in numbers of men available for my work was manifest, but that was only during February and March. Since April, however, a marked change has taken place, but the number in my employ is still fully fifteen hundred below the pre-war mark. The truth is that the manhood of the Dominion, including also the returned soldiers, has very slightly increased in numbers since the war began, as the lads who have passed into manhood do not much outnumber those who have been killed or maimed. It is owing to this fact that only £522,092 has been expended on railways, roads, and bridges out of .£976,055 provided on the estimates. I am in hope, however, that the results of the operations during the current financial year will show a marked improvement. A considerable amount of machinery has been ordered, and some has actually come to hand. The results from the Lake Coleridge undertaking continue to be increasingly remunerative. The net revenue for the year ended the 31st March last exceeded the cost of working the scheme by £20,180. The interest on the capital sunk in the undertaking amounted to £15,692, leaving a balance towards Depreciation Account of £4,494. The result for.the six months ended the 30th September, 1919, is that the revenue exceeded the estimate for that period by £2,864, and the expenditure fell short of the estimate by £645, showing a net gain beyond the estimate of £3,509. If the returns for the second six months are on the same scale, then on the 31st March, 1920, there will have been received as net revenue more than sufficient to defray both interest and depreciation charges— viz., 6 per cent, on total capital cost. As soon as it is possible to erect the plant necessary to generate the full power available at Lake Coleridge the net receipts from this undertaking will largely increase. Arajnini.—N shaft is being sunk on each side of the river at the site of the proposed dam, to be followed by a tunnel connecting these shafts, with the view of testing the stability of the strata which will have to support the foundations and wings of the dam. As soon as the Engineer-in-Chief is satisfied from these investigations that it will be safe to proceed, the main work will at once be started and carried to completion with all possible despatch. Mangahao. —At Mangahao, since the Ist of April last, the construction of the road to give access to the various sections of the work has been pushed on. The formation has been completed beyond the central reservoir to the top of the hill overlooking the Mangahao, and a start is now being made with the metalling. A complete steam-generating power plant of 360 horse-power capacity has been ordered to supply power to the machinery required in the construction of the tunnels and other works. Arrangements have been made to establish a small sawmill on the site to cut the requisite timber. Difficulty has been found in obtaining a supply of suitable labour. Temporary boardinghouses have been established for the men employed, and plans are ready for the erection of huts and dining and recreation rooms when timber is available.

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