I

1910. NEW ZEALA/ND

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. BY THE HON. RODERICK McKENZIE, MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS. 15th NOVEMBER, 1910.

Mr. Speaker,— The year 1909-10, the operations of which I have to describe, if not quite the busiest in the annals of the Department, was nevertheless a very busy year. There have been only four occasions during the last thirty years on which the annual expenditure of the Department has exceeded two millions sterling, and last year was one of them. The present year promises to be even a busier one, as I am in the fortunate position of being able to propose larger votes than last year for all the works ordinarily undertaken by the Department —railways, roads, buildings, telegraphs, &c. — and, in addition, to submit proposals for carrying out practical work in the way of developing some of our extensive water-powers, and also for the construction of important irrrigation works, and I have to bespeak for my various propositions the careful and sympathetic consideration of honourable members. TOTAL EXPENDITURE. The total expenditure on all works and services borne upon the publicworks estimates last year amounted to .£2,218,975, or, if we exclude special accounts having their own ways and means, and take into consideration only actual charges against the Public Works Fund, the total amounted to £ 1,993,171, which, with the exception of the previous year, is the largest expenditure on such works for many years past. The following table shows, as regards each class of work, (a) the total expenditure since the inauguration of the public-works policy to the 31st December, 1890; (b) the similar expenditure between the Ist January, 1891, and the 31st March, 1910; (c) the gross total expenditure to the 81st March, 1910 ; and (d) the expenditure for the late financial year : —

i— l). 1.

Expenditure. D Class of Work. A B c Total to 1st Januurv, Total to • list December, 1891, to 31st 31st March, 1890. t March, 1910, ! 1910. Year ended 91st March, 1910. i £ 786,952 468,518t 338,762 277,157 17,003 30,567 16,682 Railways— & £ & New construction ... ... ... 11,975,098 7,791,818 19,766,916 Additions to open lines ... ... 2,092,002 1 6,271,830 8,363,832* Roads ... ... ... 3,575,804 5,093,974 8,669,778 Public buildings .. 1,776,003 2,591,272 4,367,275 Immigration ... ... ... 2,144,386 74,405 2,218,791 Purchase of Native lands ... ... 1,191,137 877,277 2,068,414 Lighthouses, harbour-works, and harbour 880,095 180,324 1,060,419 defences Tourist and health resorts ... ... ... 197,361 197,361 Telegraph-extension... ... ... ! 600,849 1,165,342 1,766,191 Development of goldfields ... ... 561,101 276,012 837,113 Defence-works (general) ... ... 429,720 474,191 903,911 Departmental 349,789 284,284 j 634,073 Payment to Midland Railway bondholders ... 150,000; 150,000 Lands improvement ... ... ... 51,027 51,027 Minor works and services ... ... 300,689 20,266! 320,955 Cost and discount, raising loans, &c. ... 1,021,472 220,460 1,241,932 14,508 123,422 17,597 4,977 41,176 "6,910 5,715 Totals ... ... ... 26,898,145 25,719,843 | 52,617,988 2,149,946 * Including Wellington-Manawatu Railway purchase. Expenditure in connection with new Hutl not included. \ Excluding expenditure on new Hutt Road. ,t Road (£67,244)