B.—4A

1496. The Department also operates to a small extent on certain votes out of the Consolidated Fund, and the following statement will show the expenditure_ on those votes in 1914 and 1931. The works involved are mainly of a maintenance nature, and it would be misleading to show the total amount which has been expended year by year on work of this nature.

1497 A significant point noticeable in the table showing the accumulated capital expenditure is that between 1914 and 1931 it more than doubled. Another interesting feature is that whereas receipts and transfers from the Consolidated Fund up to 1914 totalled £11,000,000, in subsequent years, when times of comparative prosperity were experienced, the additional transfers to capital purposes amounted to little more than £4,500,000. Undoubtedly a serious mistake has been made in the past in not depending to a greater extent on revenue for works of a developmental nature. Loan-money has been too easily obtained in good times, and the lessons now being learnt should not be forgotten when the tide of prosperity returns. The loan liability in respect of the activities of the Public Works Department and other Departments engaged m developmental works, such as land-drainage, &c„ totals £134,823,659, as shown m the following statement: —

151

Net Annua] Expenditure for Years ended 31st March, Avenues of Expenditure. =: 1914. 1931. Consolidated Fund— £ £ Public Buildings .. .. •• •• o'cll a'aqs Government and other Domains .. •• •• 2,575 4,498 Maintenance and Repairs to Roads .. •• •• 44,014 if'oto Maintenance of Irrigation Works .. •• •• •• 16,242 Total, Consolidated Fund .. .. •• 125,466 115,969

Loan Liability, Interest and 31st March, 1931. Amortization Charge. Public Works Fund £ £ Departmental .. •• •• •• •• 61,716 2,998 National Development Account — Roads, Roads to Outlying Districts and Roads on 20,612,161 1,001,338 Harbour Works and Lighthouses .. 1, 027,151 49,899 Lands Miscellaneous .. •• 653,591 Mining Development i ooI'nOO 67'«0 SS7:: :: :: :: :: !;X:m S:ffi Social Services 3'316'816 161' 131 SSSB* . :: :: :: :: ?:»: '£:£ Timber Supplies and Sawmills .. •• r - " Acquisition, &c., of Quarries MM 0« Development of Tourist Resorts .. to'Ha :: :: :: :: :: ''«0$ Plant, Material, and Stores . . - - 262,380 12,746 Waihou and Oliinemuri Rivers Improvement Account .. 7I0,UU0 i'a7i Railway Construction, Railways Improvement and Additions 66,656,298 3,281,071 to Open Lines and Lines under Construction Telegraph Extension and Post Office Buildings, &c. .. 12,202,101 592,778 Total, Public Works Fund .. •• •• 120,835,409 5,919,338 Sp *ttoSu7ply Account 10,033,576 Main Highways Account .. •• •• •• vr'nw Hauraki Plains Settlement Account (Lands) .. •• 814,070 37,U3Z Rangitaiki Land Drainage Account (Lands) .. 500,000 qa'qai Swamp Land Drainage Account (Lands) •• •• 669,000 3U,8Ui Total .. ■■ •• •• 134,823,659 6,681,456