D.—l

II

EAILWAYS. To detail future railway-construction would take up too much space. Generally speaking, the lines to be constructed have been classified in order of importance, consideration at the same time being given to the amount of money available. New and more economical methods of construction have been adopted by the greater employment of mechanical aids. With this object in view a sum of £200,000 has been agreed to by Cabinet for the purchase of necessary machinery. Details of the plant are given later. It is not intended to distribute this machinery all over the country on various small works, but to concentrate it on certain definite works. When these undertakings have been completed it will be removed with its personnel to other lines next in order of importance. Legislation will be introduced this session to enable light railways of a less gauge than 3 ft. 6 in. to be constructed. EXPENDITURE. The total expenditure on all works and services borne upon the public-works estimates amounted to the sum of £2,269,170 ; or, if the special accounts having their own ways and means are excluded, the actual charges against the Public Works Fund amounted to £2,020,714, as compared with the expenditure of £1,207,482 in the previous year. The following table shows briefly the particulars of expenditure during the financial year ended 31st March, 1920, also the total expenditure in respect to each class of work from the date of the inauguration of the Public Works policy to the 31st March last:—

Class of Work. Exper Expenditure for Year ended 31st March, 1920. iditure. Total Expenditure to 31st Maroh, 1920. Railways— New construction Additions to open lines ... Roads ... Public buildings ... Immigration Purchase of Native lands ... Lighthouses, harbour-works, and harbour-defences Tourist and health resorts... Telegraph-extension Development of mining Defence-works (general) ... Departmental Electric-power supply and development Irrigation and water-supply Payment to Midland Railway bondholders ... Lands-improvement Minor works and services ... Plant, material, and stores ... ... .,. Cost and discount, raising loans, &c. £ 588,325 160,324 388,562 469,195 Or. 62,561 3,498 6,194 249,379 1,173 10,187 121,677 £ 26,246,190 9,991,925 12,009,175 7,799,943 2,267,519 2,061,849 1,151,941 267,254 4,072,978 883,179 1,061,765 1,552,931 9,254 194,835 150,000 138,304 312,607 159,296 1,253,073 34,115 2,964 47,682 Wellington-Hutt Railway and Road Improvement ( Railway Account 1 Road ... Railways Improvement Account Railways Improvement Authorization Act 1914 Account Loans to Local Bodies Account—Roads to open up Crown lands Opening up Crown Lands for Settlement Account—Roads to open up Crown lands Land for Settlements Account—Roads to open up Crown lands National Endowment Account —Roads to open up endowment lands Aid to Water-power Works and Electric Supply Account Irrigation and Water-supply Account Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Account... 2,020,714 92,994 71,584,048 228,374 101,658 641,275 609,441 697,408 206,626 61,692 322,722 53,401 35,184 447,496 34,806 126,825 Totals 2,245,390 75,019,274