YEAR'S SPENDING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 152, 28 June 1940, Page 9

YEAR'S SPENDING.

AGRICULTURE NEEDS.

RADIO. PENSIONS, WORKS.

WHEAT INDUSTRY GRANT.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON", Thursday.

The Estimates, which were presented with the Budget in the House of Representatives to-night, show the marked effect which the war is having on Xew Zealand's internal life.

In the Internal Affairs Department vote provision is made for grants to the | Polish relief fund, earthquake deaths in Turkey, and Red Cross work in Finland of £5000 each. Another interesting item is £2000 for the national Centennial Exhibition of Xew Zealand art in the main cities and towns throughout the Dominion. Most of this sum, however, will be recoverable. There is also a refund of £111 made by the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, of his grant of £1200 in eonnection with his trip last year to the United Kingdom, and refund of £200 of the additional grant made to the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, in connection with his visit to Geneva. Labour and Pubiic Works. One of the largest votes in the Estimates is for the Labour Department of £2,717,722. This amount, however, is a reduction of £104,000 on last year's expenditure, and is mostly due to decreased provision ftor the promotion of employment. The maintenance, public works and services vote totals £650,000 this year, which is a heavy reduction of £440,000 on last year's expenditure. This is largely attributable to charges for aerodromes and emergency landing grounds being transferred to the War Expenses Account. A substantial increase is shown in this year's vote for agriculture of £1,049,000, the increase being £675,000, a large portion of which is on account of subsidies on the manufacture of fertilisers totalling £630,600. An increase of £170,700 is also shown in the Industries and Commerce vote of £521,615. This vote includes a grant of £223,905 for the development of the wheat industry in the Dominion. A substantial subsidy of £170,000 for coal production is chiefly responsible for an increase of £175,500 in the Mines Department vote of £250,000. Social Security Effects. The effect of the social security scheme is evident in the Health Department vote this year of £1,503,410, a reduction on last year of £15,500. The vote shows a reduction of the subsidy to hospital board of £119,000 on account of the operation of the Social Security Act.

The Social Security vote shows that the transfer from the Consolidated Fund to the Social Security Fund has Ijeen increased from £1,000,000 last year to £3,200,000 this year. The National Provident Fund and Friendly Societies Department vote of £109,000 this year is a decrease of £10,000 on last years expenditure, largely attributable to the fact of maternity claims on friendly societies being charged against the Social Security Fund.

The Social Security Fund vote this year includes hospital benefits £1,237,000, an increase of £462,800 on last year, and maternity benefits £430,000, an increase on the previous year's expenditure of £167.000. Provision is also made for £10,000 each for medical benefits and pharmaceutical benefits.

The State Coal Mines vote shows an increase of £93,000 in the vote of £442,839, largely due to increased production.

The Working Railways Account is the largest vote on the Estimates. The tota< this year is £8,033,909, tin increase of £300,000, which will be chiefly absorbed in the maintenance of rolling stock. The Broadcasting Account this year is £313,588, an increase of £61,000. The National Broadcasting Board vote is increased by £42,000 on last year's expenditure, and the Commercial Broadcasting Account by £17,000. Public Works Estimates. Public Works estimates are as follow, with comparisons for last year:— 1940-41. 1039-40. Departmental 190,000 210,000 Railways— Construction . . 700,000 1,253,000 Improvements and additions to open lines 1.500,000 3,300,000 Public buildings .. . 1,(150.000 1,250.000 Education buiJdiings . 700,0w 900,000 Lighthouses and harbour works .... 30,000 42,100 Tourist resorts development 25,000 35,000 Road's, etc 500,000 1,400.000 Telegraph extension r»-5.000 tfOO.OOO I.«nd'-s improvement 350,01)0 330,000 Irrigation, water supply and drainage 425,000 390,000 Swamp laud drainage 9,000 14,000 Small farms development 3<0,000 69j,000 Xiitive land settlem't 350,000 675,000

£46,000 SURPLUS.

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. In summarising the budgetary position, Mr. Nash quoted figures providing for revenue of £37,080.000 and expenditure of £37.034.000, leaving an estimated surplus of £40,000. The detailed tables quoted by the Minister are as follows: — ESTIMATED REVENUE. Ta rustoms~ 7.r,00.000 * Beer clutv 1.380.000 Sales tax 3.000.000 Highway £ i?*225'222 Stamp duties .... 1,600.000 Land tax 1.000.000 Income tax 13..»«>0.000 Miscellaneous .... 1125.000 Total taxation . — 30,003,000 Intercut 2.800.000 Other receipts 3.375.000 6.175.000 Total revenue .. £37,080,000 estimated expenditure. Permanent Appropriations—^ Debt services .... 10.671.000 Exchange 1,500,000 Transfer highways revenue 2,583,000 Other permanent appropriations . 380,000 15.134,000 An mi nl votes — Social ■services .. . 11.834.000 Other services .. . 9.816,000 21,050.000 Supplementary estimates and contingencies 250,000 37,034,000 JBstimated surplus ot £46,000