DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30176, 6 July 1963, Page 12

DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES

“Insufficient Discussions” (N.Z Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 5. The Public Expenditure Committee had not had sufficient discussions with State Advances Corporation officers on a proposed change in the corporation’s estimates of administrative expenditure, the Minister in charge of the corporation (Mr Rae)' said in Parliament today. He was commenting on the committee’s recommendation that estimates of administrative expenditure of the corporation be subject to. annual appropriation by Parliament.

The House was discussing the first report of the committee which was set up under the new standing orders The chairman, Mr W. A Sheat (Government, Egmont). said the committee had recommended that the practice of using money from the National Development Loans Account to cover operating deficits in the State Coal Mines Account should be discontinued.

Last year, £750,000 had been transferred and in the previous year the figure was £300.000. The money should be taken from taxation and not loan money. Mr Sheat said working expenses of some trading departments were subject to annual appropriation by the House and others were not The corporation was not, but the committee felt this should be considered as it was a major instrument of Government financial policy. Mr R. D. Muldoon (Government, Tamaki) said he believed the board of management of the State Advances Corporation was “an anachronism” and that eventually the corporation would develop into a department. Mr Rae said a simple solution would be to “wipe” procedure so that the corporation’s account could be discussed in the House. A way could be found.- , Mr W. A. Fox (Opposition. Miramar) said the idea was to amalgamate departments to save expenditure. However, it could work in reverse and would cause less efficiency.

Illegitimate Births (Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, July 5. During ’he year ended March 31, 1963, illegitimate births m New Zealand numbered 4924. This number included 504 on which inquiries had not been completed by March 31, 1962. says the annual report of the child V elfare Division. The figure for the previous year was 4198 There has been a steady increase over the last 10 years in the number of illegitimate births notified, says the report The increase was marked in 1961-62 but even more conspicuous for 1962-63 That the registration of Maori births was put on the same footing as registration of European births in 1962 could have been a significant factor in the notified increase.