VII

D.—l

to various schemes which would mean the permanent removal of considerable numbers from the ranks of the unemployed, and it is anticipated that (hiring the present summer several of these schemes will be finalized and put into operation, thus materially relieving the position so far as next winter is concerned. As honourable members are aware, the Government has given an undertaking that all unemployed capable of employment will be placed in work at a certain date. A sub-committee of Cabinet has the matter in hand, and proposals in this direction are at the present time receiving that committee's attention. EXPENDITURE. The total net expenditure under all votes and accounts appearing on the public-works estimates for the financial year ended 31st March, 1929, was £8,331,884. Of this sum £3,777,006 was expended out of General Purposes Account, and the balance, £4,554,878, out of special accounts. A brief summary of this expenditure, as well as the total expenditure since the inception of the public-works policy to the 31st March la,st, follows in tabular form : —

E r£r T ° tai Class of Work. ended E^P®n^ tur ? to 31st March, 3 ' 1929. Iy29 - Railways— I £ £ New construction .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,002,872 36,166,445 Additions to open lines .. .. .. .. .. .. 213,405 16,003,639 Payment to Midland Railway bondholders .. .. ,. .. 150 000 Roads •• •• •• •• .. .. 833,577 17,799,'274* Public buildings 213,505 K), 341,786 Immigration .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50,266 3,234,549 Purchase of Native lands .. .. .. .. .. ., 2 061 147 Lighthouses, harbour-works, and harbour defences .. .. .. 17,063 I j 266,276 Tourist and health resorts .. .. .. .. ! 39 254 499 580 Telegraph extension .. .. .. .. .. .. 9,916^361 Development of mining .. .. .. .. .. _ ggl 535 Defence works (general) .. .. .. .. .. .. 67,652 1,347'920 Departmental .. .. .. .. .. .. 14-2,253 2,544,318 Irrigation and water-supply .. .. .. .. .. ! 55,197 836,472 Lands-improvement .. .. .. .. .. .. 85,861 512,381 Minor works and services .. .. .. . . . . ,. 312 607 Plant, material, and stores .. .. .. . . I 4 594 35] 770 Quarries (acquisition and operating) .. .. .. I Cr. 6 030 5 114 Timber-supply and sawmills for Public Works Department .. .. j Cr. 5,115 390 Motor-transport services .. .. .. .. .. I .. 33 635 Cost and discount, raising loans, &c- .. .. .. .. 438,238 3,031,051 Total General Purposes Account .. .. .. .. 3,777,006f 107,296,300 Aid to Water-power Works and Electric Supply Account .. .. 1,183,103J 8,395^910+ Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Account .. .. 52,310J 660,299J Total Public Works Fund .. .. .. .. .. 5,012,419 I 116,352,509 Wellington-Hutt Railway, &c.— Railway .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 228,374 Road .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 101,658 Railways Improvement Account .. .. .. . . . . .. 641 275 Railways Improvement Authorization Act, 1914 Account .. .. 2,007,617§ 6,482,284§ Loans to Local Bodies Account—Roads to open up Crown lands . . .. 697,408' Opening up Crown Lands for Settlement Account —Roads to open up .. 206,626 Crown lands Lands for Settlement Account —Roads to open up Crown lands .. .. 590,025 National Endowment Account .. .. .. .. .. .. 53,401 Education Loans Account.. .. .. .. .. .. 375,352§ 3,747,433fj Main Highways Account —Construction Fund .. .. .. 936,496' j 2,681,924 8,331,884 ; 131,782,917 * Includes £4,500 expended under section 16, subsection (1), Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1923. f Does not include expenditure under the Ellesmere Land Drainage Act, 1905. J Excludes interest during construction. § Includes proportionate cost of loan raised under these accounts.