Communications and transit > National public works

[Communicated to the Assembly,
the Council and the Members
of the League.]
Official No.: A* 1 1934.VIII.
Geneva, September 3rd, 1934.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSIT ORGANISATION
NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS
In the report on the work of the Communications and Transit Organisation adopted at
its fourteenth session, the Assembly stated that “ a continuous study of general questions
relating to public works financed by States themselves, without recourse to foreign capital,
would make it possible to collect the information which the various Governments consider
they could furnish as to the experience acquired in the different countries, particularly as
regards the effects of the execution of public works or of a particular category of public works
on the resumption of economic activity and on unemployment. Such information would be
particularly useful in order to enable Governments to judge of the possibility and desirability
of pursuing, in present circumstances, a policy of carrying out programmes of public works on
parallel lines. In the present period of distress, this question cannot fail to be of particular
interest to public opinion and Governments in most countries.”
At its seventy-sixth session, the Council also expressed similar views and concluded “ that
it would certainly be useful to collect without delay any preparatory information which might
be required on this matter with a view to subsequent discussion ”.
In order to facilitate by the collection of suitable information, as desired by the Assembly
and Council, any subsequent examination of the question of public works, including national
public works, the Secretary-General, in a circular letter dated March 7th, 1934, requested the
Governments to communicate to him the following particulars :
I. A brief description of the main public works :
(a) Undertaken since the beginning of the year 1929 and now completed ;
(b) Now in course of execution ;
(c) The execution of which is at present in contemplation or schemes for
which are in preparation.
The term “ public works ” is intended to include the various categories of work
mentioned in the list reproduced below and the public works described should, as far as
possible, be classified according to the categories shown in that list.
II. The principal administrative methods followed or contemplated for the
execution of the work referred to in I, and any legal provisions relating to such work.
(Has the work in question been carried out, or is it being, or to be, carried out on
behalf of or by the order of a central, regional or local or other authority, or on behalf
of a company holding a concession from public services, or on behalf of private persons
receiving a grant from the public authorities ? Is such work being carried out directly
by the authorities, or by contract, etc. ?)
III. The principal methods employed for financing such work.
(Is the expenditure on the work charged to the ordinary or the extraordinary budget
of the State, the budget of regional or local administrations, the budgets of public bodies,
etc., or is it financed by an internal or external loan ? Security of such loans ; plans of
repayment, etc.)
IV. An estimate, as far as is possible, of the allocation of expenditure on the execution
of the public works referred to in I, as between materials and equipment provided by
national or foreign industries, on the one hand, and labour — that is to say, wages and
miscellaneous social expenditure — on the other.
V. The Government’s opinion with regard to the effects obtained or expected from
the execution of the public works referred to in I on the resumption of economic and
industrial activities and on unemployment.
Series of League of Nations Publications
S. d. N. 1.230 (F.) 975 (A.). 9 /34. Imp. Granchamp, Annemasse.
VIII. TRANSIT.
1934. VIII. 7.