BRITAIN’S EXPENDITURE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 March 1926, Page 5

BRITAIN’S EXPENDITURE

CIVIL SERVICE AND ARMY.

IMPROVED EQUIPMENT.

SOME FEATURES EXPLAINED. B ST CABLE—PEEBS ASSOCIATION—. OPYRIGHT. Received 11.15 a.m. to-day. LONDON, March 11. Civil Service estimates total £300,641,000, compared with £312,954,000 last year. The estimates iuelude £50,730,000 for education, £29,840,000 for old age pensions, £63,504,000 for war pensions. The Army estimates total £426,500,000, a reduction of two millions. The establishment absorbs 159,400 troops, exclusive of India, a reduction of 1200. The War Minister, Sir L. Worthington Evans, emphasises that more new light tanks are being provided, and four more medium batteries iare being equipped with, dragon tractors. Attention is drawn to new designs of guns and ammunition, also to the defence against gas.

The War Minister, in his memorandum, pays a tribute to the high quality of the recruits, only thirty per cent of those offering being accepted, owing to the high standard of character, education and physique demanded. The army was less dependent on men out of work for recruits than formerly. Forty per cent, of the London recruits gave up employment.

The issue of war medals to nearly six millions of people approaches completion, but the addresses of 200,000 cannot be traced. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.