EXPENDITURE ON STORES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22240, 3 November 1937, Page 12

EXPENDITURE ON STORES

COMMENT ON GROWING TOTAL

TFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, November 2,

The extent of Government expenditure coming within the province of the Stores Control Board was the subject of comment by Mr H. G. Dickie (National, Patea), during the debate on the Imprest Supply Bill in the House of Representatives to-day. "Reference has already been made to the fart that we sre budgeting to spend the whole of our revenue," said Mr Dickie. "The Government is cheerfully overlooking the fact that in business it is customary to put something to reserve against bad times. "The report of the Stores Control Board gives the House some idea of how we are spending the money. The amount paid for stores last year was £5,349,000, as against £3,250,000 in the previous year. It is the largest amount spent in stores in any year since the board has been in existence." Mr Dickie said it seemed that the Government was either buying a tremendous amount of stores and equipment or else it was meeting increased prices. The fact remained that th 6 expenditure was practically doubled and some explanation was needed.