I

1913. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. BY THE HON. WILLIAM FRASER, MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS. NOVEMBER, 1913.

Mr. Speaker,— Owing to the financial position obtaining at the close of last session, and in view of the heavy commitments already entered into, I did not feel justified in making available for immediate expenditure the whole of the new items appearing on the public-works estimates. All authorities issued and offers made in pursuance of previous years' appropriations were, however, duly honoured. New votes urgently requiring attention were also authorized on application. As soon as the success of the llotation of the new loan was assured all restrictions regarding expenditure of new votes were removed. Notwithstanding these precautionary measures the total expenditure of the past year on public works was not only in excess of that of the previous year, but was actually the largest in any single year for over thirty years, and amounted to the very large sum of £2,711,068—viz., £2,593,365 out of the Public Works Fund and allied, special accounts, and £117,703 out of the Consolidated Fund. The following table shows the brief particulars of the expenditure of the year, and also the total under each class of work from the inauguration of the publicworks policy up to the 31st March last :■ —

TOTAL EXPENDITURE.

i—l 3 1,

P]xpem Expenditure for Year ended 31st March, 1913. 'iture. Glass of Work. Total Expenditure to 31st March, 1918. Eailways— New construction Additions to open lines ... Eoads ... Public buildings ... Immigration Purchase of Native lands ... Lighthouses, harbour-works, and harbour-defences Tourist and health resorts... Telegraph-extension Development of goldfields ... ■Defence-works (general) ... Departmental Development of water-power Irrigation and water-supply Pavment to Midland Railway bondholders Lands-improvement Minor works and services ... .... Cost and discount, raising loans, &c. & 684,196 464,636 374,346 445,192 14,694 ■16,785 12,906 251,375 10,644 23,790 57,425 £ 21,-945,802 8,853,417 9,723,865 5,487,225 2,254,606 2,065,720 1,098,207 229,539 2,277,]25 877,802 944,209 784,095 18,451 4,356 150,000 104,713 312,607 1,243,692 22,550 72,950 Wellington-Hutt Sailway Improvement New Hutt Road ... Bail ways Improvement Account Opening up Crown Lands for Settlement Account National Endowment Account Waihou and Ohinemuri Eivers Account Aid to Water-power Works Account Irrigation and Water-supply Account 2,451,489 991 1,738 29,254 47,951 2,689 9,555 35,009 14,689 58,375,431 ■ 228,381 98,822 596,768 632,153 19,838 13,324 35,009 14,689 Totals 2,593,365 60,014,415