I

1898. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT BY THE HON. W. HALL-JONES, MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS 27th SEPTEMBER, 1898.

Me. Speakee,— I have the honour to lay before honourable members the Public Works Statement and estimates of expenditure for the year. The large number of applications that have been received for the construction of various public works throughout the colony have been very carefully considered, and, in view of the limited ways and means available, honourable members will realise the difficulty experienced in deciding upon those which first required attention. After careful deliberation, however, a selection has finally been made, and full particulars of the works proposed to be undertaken will be found in the accompanying estimates. In railway-construction alone the applications for new lines and the extension of existing lines comprise a length of over 1,500 miles, at an estimated approximate cost of nearly £10,000,000. It is claimed by those who advocate these railway works being undertaken by the colony that each one is the most important, and that the expected returns would justify the expenditure. I suppose it is only natural that settlers residing in the vicinity of proposed works, and who know the disadvantages under which they labour as compared with other parts of the colony, where greater facilities have been provided, should feel that the works which most concern them are of greater importance than those with which they are not so well acquainted. Searching and complete inquiry has to be made, and the greatest care exercised in deciding which among the numerous claims, if given effect to, would best promote the general interests of the colony. This being done, it is too often the case that, while the Government admit that many of the works asked for are necessary for the convenience of the settlers and the proper development of the country, a great many of them must stand over, owing to the limited amount of money available. If the more important railways, such as the North Island Mam Trunk, Otago Central, Blenheim-Culverden, the completion of the Seaward Bush, and the extension of the Helensville Northwards Bailway to Kaipara Plats, &c, are to be completed at an early date it can only •be done by means of a large loan to meet the necessary expenditure. This course has been advocated by many honourable members, who, with some reason, contend that the early completion of these works will largely increase the returns from the lines already constructed, will induce settlement, and promote the development of the resources of the country; and, moreover, that, as the works will be of a permanent character it is only right that those coming after us should in some measure i—D. 1.