BRITISH BUDGET.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 28 February 1927, Page 7

BRITISH BUDGET.

REDUCTIONS POSSIBLE! Money For Shanghai Defence ; Force. ; ESTIMATES FORECASTED. (By Cable.—Copyright.—Press Association.) (British Omeial Wireless.) (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBI", February 27. The particulars of civil estimates and estimates of the Revenue Depart- i menfc for the coming financial year are now issued. It is possible to forecast more closely J the probable amount of expenditure for j which, the Chancellor of the Exchequer | will need to make provision in the j coming Budget. ; Including the supplementary estimates, j last year's figures for the Civil Service j and Revenue Department expenditure i stood at £311,500,000. For the coming year the figure is £305,371,000. Compared with last year's original estimates, however, an increase of £4,733,000 is disclosed in the present estimates. The supplementary estimates last year included the sums required for foreign coal purchases, unemployed relief, and other charges in connection with the coal strike. It is understood that the Army estimates for the coming year, which are now being completed, show a total expenditure of £415,000,000, representing a general reduction of about £1,000,000. The '"Times" says that but for the inclusion of money necessary in connection with the Shanghai defence force, the saving would have been greater. For the China services there will be a supplementary vote covering the charges in the current year ending March 31. The "Daily News" anticipates that the Navy Estimates will be about the same as last year, and that the Air Force Estimates will disclose a reduction of about £500,000. It is probable, therefore, that the main items in the coming Budget will be: Fighting services, £115,500,000. Civil Services, £305,374,000. Consolidated Fund Services, £392,000,000. This assumes, however, that the sinkin!: fund, which was raised last year from £50.000.000 to £60,000,000, will be kept at the lower figure.