D—l

The Tramways Carriage Regulations 1947 were enacted for the purpose of securing improvement in facilities and services in this form of public transport. The regulations are not yet fully operative in respect of overcrowding because of the difficulties of providing the additional transport that is necessary. The Housing Improvement Regulations 1947 were made in order to improve residential amenities. In collaboration with the Solicitor-General, negotiations were undertaken for the acquisition of the rights of the Auckland Harbour Bridge Co. under the Auckland Harbour Bridge Act, 1931. A satisfactory agreement was reached, the terms of which will enable the Act of 1931 to be repealed, and legislation proposals in this connection have been prepared for consideration. FINANCE The payments and receipts in connection with the Public Works Account and other associated votes and accounts for the year 1947-48 are shown in the tabulation following. The expenditure administered through the Department for the year reached a total of £23,779,896. In addition, a sum of £1,065,870 was expended from the Public Works Account by the Education Department on school buildings, &c. The miscellaneous receipts totalled £6,406,794.

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1 Class of Work. Expenditure, 1947-48. Expenditure, Public Works Account Railway-construction Housing construction Public buildings Education buildings Lighthouses and harbour-works Roads, &c. Soil conservation and rivers control Irrigation, water-supply, and drainage Highways construction Electric Supply Account: construction (public works) Expenditure, other Votes and Accounts Consolidated Fund — Highways— Maintenance, repairs, and renewals Administration, plant, and miscellaneous expenditure Permanent appropriations (rate subsidies, &c.) Salaries and expenses, Public Works Department and Ministry of Works Maintenance, public buildings, roads, &c. Plant, material, and miscellaneous services Other accounts (expenditure by Public Works Department): Amounts not included above Total, other votes and accounts Grand total of expenditure, Public Works Account and other votes and accounts, for the vear ended 31st March, 1948 £ 122,776 6,639,018 2,136,422 1,065,870 9,803 325,534 326,914 417,312 1,333,303 12,376,952 2,525,890 14,902,842 2,859,037 268,316 276,728 933,533 922,377 4,549,324 133,609 9,942,924 24,845,766