PUBLIC SAVINGS

Evening Star, Issue 17792, 14 October 1921, Page 3

PUBLIC SAVINGS

PRIME MINISTER GIVES DETAILS. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 13. When tho Prime Minister spoke to the farmers' deputation of retrenchment, ho gave round numbers. To-day ho quoted details from a Treasury statement showing that substantial savings were affected as follows Salaries, wages. . and under charges, £907.041; flour and butter subsidies ended, £646.000; interest and sinking fund payments saved. £880,750. U was explained hy Mr Massey that the savings in interest sinking fund payments had been saved by utilising the funds in the Ordinary Revenue Account instead of borrowing? Retrenchment had been effected in the Defence Department by tho demobilisation of 889 officers, whose salaries charged to the War Expenses Account had totalled £240,000 annually. Air Wilford: Wc asked for that last rear. Mr Massey “You cannot do everything at once, but we have been doing something on these lines for a year." Ho proceeded to quote the following details of savings in departments included in the above totals: Post and Telegraphs, £75.244; Railways, £445.000; Internal Affairs, £40.360; Defence. £108,211. These details, he suggested, would remove the impression that (he Government had done nothing to egret economics to bring expenditure within income. Air Wilford ; Why has it not been tackled before? Mr Alasscy : Wc commenced a year ago, and I am not in tho habit of talking about it until T have done things. More remains to he done, and I shall ask the assistance of Parliament in this matter before the session comes to an end. Replying to a question regarding themethod of dismissing Public servants who are retrenched, Mr Massey stated that the Public Service Act provides that Public servants whose employment is determined are given throe months’ notice of termination. Only where an officer Ims been found guilty of a breach of the Act or regulations is ho summarily dismissed. Tcmnoravv employees’ engagements extend from' dav to day, but reasonable notice of termination is always given.