GOVERNMENTAL ESTIMATES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27107, 1 August 1953, Page 2

GOVERNMENTAL ESTIMATES

FINAL DRAFT NOW COMPLETE SUBMISSION TO CAUCUS NEXT WEEK (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 31. “We have done all the investigating and reckoning that we can in readiness for the Government members’ caucus next week,” said the ActingPrime Minister (Mr K. J. Holyoake) at a press conference this evening. He said the final oraft of the current year’s Estimates had been prepared, and would be submitted to the caucus. The Cabinet’s finance sub-committee has met, on an average, twice a week during the absence from New Zealand of the Prime Minister (Mr Holland). The sub-committee will continue to discuss Government and departmental expenditure. It will meet again before next week's caucus.

“I hope and expect that the Cabinet finance sub-committee will be a continuing one,” said Mr Holyoake. The sub-committee would meet during the forthcoming session of Parliament and begin a study of the country’s financial position before next year’s Estimates were prepared. Mr Holyoake said the sub-commit-tee had proved its usefulness. Its in-terviews-with departmental heads had enabled the Government to scrutinise every aspect of expenditure, and its meetings to discuss next year’s Estimates would allow it and the Government to gain a better understanding of likely expenditure.