MILLIONS AND PENCE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22460, 22 July 1938, Page 12

MILLIONS AND PENCE

♦ — . Solemn Trifles In The Estimates "FOURTEEN SHILLINGS LOST OVERBOARD" • Governments have often been accused of "throwing money into the sea," and the accusation can seldom have been literally correct. But no one is likely to blame the Government because the Estimates this year reveal that 14s Id must be found by the taxpayers to replace "public moneys lost overboard by H.M.S. Leander." That is one of the many solemn trivialities-that lighten the massive aspect of the Estimates —when the language of millions is applied gravely to. shillings and pence. .-' . Such things certainly make tne Budget more human, "more understanding. Heads may be puzzled in trying to make out who pays the public debt what it is, and who receives the bill; and millions, after all have no great meaning to the weekly wage-earner. But it is reassuring to find that the Lands and Survey Department has to, buy cakes of soap, and that it pays a-humble 14s for its soap, perhaps it is for the use of Ministers in washing their hand of various matters? Perhaps the supply of soap-boxes was low.' No-one can tell; but here is evidence at least that the qovernment has a grocer's bill. ' -'...". . ■ A strain of religious music —probably familiar hymns played on a harmonium —occurs as an unexpected blessing in the Naval Service accounts. "Payments for playing the organ at Divine service at H.M. Naval Base, £9 15s,'> is the item. The Customs Department is not far behind in good works. It has made a "refund'of duty on arrowroot imported by the Presbyterian Foreign Missions Committee,- and disposed of for missionary purposes. The Internal Affairs Department does its part in spreading Christmas cheer —what else could account for its expenditure of, "Christmas boxes, £3 195."?

A Departmental Petrol Tin What did the. Native Affairs Department do with the Post and Telegraph Department's petrol tin? That is another question which the Estimates prompt but do hot answer. At all events the Native Affairs Department has to replace the tin, as witness one of the smallest items in the whole of the accounts: "Cost of replacing the Post and Telegraph Department's petrol tin, 7s 2d.' The 'wording makes it seem very doubtful if the injured department ever had more than one tin at its disposal. . ■ . By far the' most sinister entry is one which authorises the purchase by the Lands and Surveys Department of ''ammunition for revolver, 125." Possibly the department is determined to prevent the Native Affairs people from'"getting down on" its only petrol tin. Meanwhile Native Affairs has spent £.ll 14s 8d oh c less up-to-date, weapon—"renovation of- presentation sword (awarded to Mokeha Kohere)." A strange story of a school inspector mobbed ,by angry teachers might lie behind the Education Department's simple record of, "repairs to suitcase (inspector), '6s '6d.'\lt would perhaps have hurt the dignity of the Estimates (and of the inspectorate) to have made it clear whether or not theinspectdras well as his suitcase had to be repaired. This department has also a broken window to its credit. The sum of £1 was paid for "replacing window of railway carriage broken by a pupil of the Special School for Boys, Otekaike." But no speculation seems to account for the loss overboard of 14s Id •of public moneys from H.M.S. Leander. It is a pdint on which the Navy may justifiably preserve its traditional silence.