PAYMENTS OVERSEAS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 32, 17 November 1939, Page 2

PAYMENTS OVERSEAS.

IMPORTS AND INTEREST. GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, November 16. Figures showing the value of importations by the Government and other payments overseas during the last two years were given by the Minister for Finance (the Hon. W. Nash), in-a. broadcast address to-night. For the year ended September 30, 1939, said Mr 'Nash, Government importations of goods amounted to £5,19i5,000, compared with £5,780,000 for thei corresponding previous year, in addition to payments for imports, the Government had to pay certain other charges such as pensions, naval pay, and the. cost of the High Commissioner's Office. In the year ended September, 1930, this was £609,000, compared with £601,000 for the year ended September, 1038. Interest on loans was a charge in the United Kingdom, and the total amount of this for the year ended September 30 last, vvias £6,651,520, compared with £6,662,309 for the previous year. The totals--of these amounts was £12,456,000 for the year ended September, 1939, compared with £13,043,000 for the previous year. . Those figures, however, did not give a. correct comparative statement of the position, for in 1939 there were increasing purchases of defence equipment, which exceeded those of the previous year by £250,000. Foodstuffs and fruit had also been purchased by the Marketing Department to the extent of £200,000. The actual saving in Government expenses would be more than £1,000,000.