REDUCTION IN ESTIMATES

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 256, 25 July 1930, Page 13

REDUCTION IN ESTIMATES

Departmental Expenditure Cut

DEFENCE VOTE DOWN BY HALF I '

Annual Appropriations Down £606,183

Most of the Government departments show a reduction of some extent in their estimates of expenditure for the financial year ending March 31, 1931, and several of the cuts are extremely severe. The annual appropriation for the various services is down by £606,183 compared with last year’s estimates of £8,181.469. The fairer comparison, however, is with the amount expended which, for the past year totals £7,951,071, whereas the estimated expenditure for the coming twelve months totals £7,585,286.

Details of departmental requirements are given in the Estimates presented to the House of Representtives concurrently , with last evening’s presentation of the Budget. * Since the 1929 estimates were issued two Government departments have lost their individuality. They are the Department of Industries and Commerce and. the Department of -Tourist and Health Resorts These two departments and the Publicity Branch, which previously came under the jurisdiction of the Internal Affairs Department, have now been merged into one department, and as such appear for the first time in the present estimates. The sum voted amounts to £126,500, whereas last year’s expenditure for the three services was £139,971. Deep Cut in Defence. In View of the suspension of military training and the lack of official information as to the future defence policy of the Domjnion, particular interest attaches this year to the defence vote. Little has been told the public of what the Government intends to do, but there is a clear indication as far as expenditure is concerned. It has been previously stated unofficially that the new scheme will not involve a cost of more than £275,000, and this is borne out by the estimates, which allot this sum to the department for the coming year. Last year’s expenditure on defence, excluding Naval defence, totalled £454,828. Statements have also been made that It is intended to reduce the permanent forces as little as possible, and this, too, Is confirmed by the estimates. The estimates of salaries for the New Zealand Staff Corps amount to £38,676 as against t’*e £39,655 that was expended for this purpose last year. Similarly there is little variation in the salaries of those in the other sections such as the New Zealand Permanent Staff, Royal Artillery. Pav Corps, Army Medical Corps, General Duty Section, and Civil Personnel Section. Less for Aviation. , The grant for military aviation is down, the vote being £40,846 asi against the £53,097 voted last year, £47,5761 ot which was expended. For civilian aviation purposes tl|.e giant totals £11,500, last year’s expenditure amount*U Riflemen will regret to find that the grant of £IOOO previously made to the National Rifle Association has been taken away, assistance being given to the extent of £SO only for miscellaneous expenses and railway warrants. Rifle clubs will receive assistance from the defence vote amounting to £275. . . o „ onHn The summary of services chargeable on the Consolidated Fund for' the year ending March 31 next is as follows, last year’s expenditure being given for purIjoses or comparisons ~ permanent appropriations.

OTHER ACCOUNTS. 1930-31. 1929-30. £ Nauru and other Islands .... 625 505 A summary of services chargeable on separate accounts and accounts outside the Public Account is as follows, last year’s expenditure being given for purposes of comparison:— SEPARATE ACCOUNTS. 1930-31. 1929-30. £ £ Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Account 40,000 39,900 Lands for Settlements Account 14,000 8,3-19 Native Land Settlement Account 207.874 11,049 State Coal Mines Ac/t. .. 315,004 295,400 State Forests Account . 303,500 360,470 Westport Harbour Ac/t 48,340 55,297 Working Railways Ac/t. 6,378,003 0,737,213 ACCOUNTS OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC ACCOUNT. 1930-31. 1929-30. Post Office Account .... 2,828,141 2,029,175 Public Trustee's Ac/t .. 207,012 2.'9,515 Native Trustee's Account 14,850 13,082 Govornnient Insurance Account 103,424 99,081 Public Service Superannuation Fund Account 8,435 8,171 State Fir# Insurance Ac/t 40,564 34,408 Government Accident Insurance Account 30,245 18,4<M State Advances Ac/t. — Advances to Settlers Branch 40,297 42,437 Advances to Workers’ Branch 14,118 11,838 Advances to Local Authorities’ Branch 2,272 1,401 Miscellaneous Business Branch 11,854 10,716 Hural Advances Branch . 8,750 4.15 S

LEVIN RESIDENTS. The Nevada Fur Co., of Wellington, are giving a wonderful exhibition of modern furs in Bath Street, opp. Library, commencing on Tuesday next, July 29. Do not miss this display.— Advt USE Q-TOL FOR WINTER SKIN COMFORT. Ladies! Use Q-tol regularly after drying the hands, to prevent cracks and chaps and banish chilblains. Use Q-tol for smoothing dry lips. Sponge the face nightly with Q-tol to cleanse the pores and keep the skin soft, supple and youthful. Men! You need Q-tol before and after shaving. Before lathering: to give a quick, close shave, without scrape or “pull." After shaving: to invigorate the skin, prevent rash or chapping, and give aii-day comfort. Sold everywhere. Get Q-tol to-day. The larger bottle is mar* *~>uomica£—Advt.

< Railway Estimates Down. A reduction has been made in the estimates of the Railway Department. The estimate for salaries and wages is £4,170,000, less £75.000 estimated savings by review of train services and economy proposals, making a total of £4,095,000. Other charges are set down at £2,297,896, less £14,893, making a net total of £6,378,003, as against the estimate of £6,658.836 last year. Maintenance of ways and works this year is estimated at £1,117,434, as against £1,220.222 last year. Signals and electrical appliance maintenance is set down at £106,403. as against £117,790. Locomotive transportation and maintenance of rolling-stock this year is estimated at £3,251.290, as against £3,109.230 last year. The estimate for traffic expenses is £1,847,634, as against £1.780,300. Economy in Education. Economy is also reflected in the Education vote, which amounts to £3,188,186, as against £3,218,828 expended last year. Salaries account for £204,873 The remainder of the vote, amounting to £2,983,313, will be used for other charges in connection with the expenses of the Education Department.

MANY OTHER ITEMS

Singapore Naval Base CONTRIBUTION CONTINUED Numerous other items of interest are provided for in the estimates. No alteration has. been made in the contribution by New Zealand toward the cost of the naval base at Singapore. It is again set down at £125,000 for the year. The contribution is part payment of the £1,900,000 the Dominion intends to contribute toward the cost of establishing the base. The amount paid up to March 31, 1930, amounted to

£375,000. The improved situation in Western Samoa is reflected in the estimate of £1,250 for pay allowances find expenses of the military police force there. Last year the amount expended was £13.960. There is an advance of £lO,OOO to the Government of Fiji to enable it to carry out certain works at Makogai Leper Asylum, but the amount is recoverable. Salaries of the judge and members of the Arbitration Court are fixed at £3500, ’ the judge to receive £2OOO and two members £750 each. The salaries of judges of the Supreme Court amount to £18,250, while provision is made for superannuation to retired judges amounting’ to £3333. Salaries of magistrates amount to £27,400. The subsidy on the South Island-Aus-tralia steamer service this year is £6300, as against £15,000 last year. Last year £5OO only was paid out as the contract was not fulfilled. Tlie vote for the Royal Agricultural Society is £5OO. Last year it was £lOOO. The estimate for the guarantee on the export of eggs is £4250, as against £5BOO last year. , ~ . , A grant of £lOO is to be provided for assistance to the tobacco industry, as against £lOOO last year. The sum of £2500 is provided for a grant to the Commonwealth Government toward the expenses of the Mawson Antarctic expedition. To enable an officer of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to attend the Imperial Economic Conference the sum of £250 is provided. The British Rugby players touring New Zealand were able to bring the badges they give as souvenirs duty free, for an item on the Customs estimates provides for a refund of duty on them of 1 The contribution of the Lands and Survey Department to the Agricultural Department for the destruction of keas has been reduced from £3<o to £5O, and the department’s expenditure on rabbit destruction on Crown lands has dropped from £6650 to £4OOO. . For by-election expenses £l2BO is provided, as against £H)00 last year. There is a grant of £15,000 for the maintenance of the Massey Agricultural College at Palmerston North. Free issue of official postage stamps to members of both Houses is set down at £2200. A sum of £2 per month is allowed to members of the House « Representatives, and £1 is allowed to members of the Legislative Council. The grant under the civil list which provides for the salaries of the Gover? nor-General and members of the Executive Council amounts to £30.400. Included in this sum is also £<ooo for Native purposes. . The amount allotted for the maintenance of overseas war graves and war memorials is set down at £20,<50. . Honoraria for members of the Legislative Council are set down at £11.970. and those for members of tl.e House of Representatives at £30,600. Subsidies to hospital boards are estimated to involve an expenditure of £bJu,000. as against £717.000 last year. Old age pension payments are set down at £1.099.498, blind pensions at £16.000, and widows’ pensions at £325,000. . L . u Payments to mam highways account are estimated at £1,916.400. A grant of £32,550 is made towards the maintenance of the motor ship Maun Pomare as against £33,261 last year. The amount ta be devoted to Publicity work for New Zealand overseas is £21,108. as against £33.650 last year. The vote for assistance towards prospecting for gold nnd other minerals has been decreased from £14,500 last year to £7OOO this year. The sum of £3OO has been allotted for beautification of the area round the grave of the late Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey at Point Halswell, as against £2085 last year.

Civil ft--•■•••••• 1930-31. £ 30.450 1929-30. £ 30,528 9,357.578 9,134,972 Sinking fund 2,921 2,889 Repayment of public 1,224,500 1,IM,245 Reduction of funded 425,540 405,136 Under special Acts of Legislature 6,247,503 6,499,835 Total . £17,288,492 £17,227,605 ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS. 1030-31. 1920-30. £ £ legislative Depts. .. Prime Minister's Dept. 90,000 13.000 99,251 13,817 Treasury Dept. National Provident 38,900 41,941 and Friendly Socleties Dept 25,000 25,586 Land add Income Tax 64,500 97,000 75,000 65,314 99.339 60,451 Dept. Stamp Duties Dept. .. Public buildings .... Government and other 4,600 4,939 Domains Maintenance and re79,504 pairs to roads Maintenance of Irrlga45.000 16,310 tlon works, etc. ... 15,000 Native Depart 30,000 35,714 External Affairs Dept. 17,108 36.612 Cook Islands ....... Industries and Commerce, Tourist and Publicity Dept. ... 26,900 84,335 139.971 120,500 Justice Dept 134,000 135,333 Prisons Dept * 90,000 88,443 Crown Law Office .. 5,800 5,824 450.000 452,883 Pensions Dept 165.000 176,743 Mines Dept 30,000 27,531 Internal Affairs Dept. 279,400 312,807 Audit Dept Public Service Com?8,20O 27,260 6,374 missionCr’s Office .. 7,480 Printing and Station214.976 cry Dept 220,000 M-ntal Hospitals Dept. 310,000 307,040 Health Dept 24(1,000 247,250 Naval Defence 450.000 437,573 Defence Dept 275.000 454,823 Customs Dept 110,000 112,087 JI irine Dept 180.092 133,706 Labour Dept Lands and Survey 56.871 60.985 192,819 172.000 Scenery Preservation 2,500 2,391 Valuation Dept 55.000 55,566 Electoral Dept 0,092 11,266 Agricultural Dept. .. 390.000 435.283 Education Dept Scientific and Indus3,188,186 8,218,828 65,774 trial Research Dept. 60,000 Transport Dept 6,357 5,313 Total 7,585,286 7,951,071