GOVERNMENT ECONOMIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21109, 17 February 1932, Page 9

GOVERNMENT ECONOMIES.

SOUTH AFRICAN UNION. REDUCTIONS IN SALARIES. TRADE RETURNS SHOW FALLS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. CAPETOWN. Feb. 15. Before the debate on the gold standard was resumed in the South African House of Assembly the Minister of Finance, Mr. N. C. Havenga, made a statement by special leave. He said the State revenue had shown a considerable fall and there was no indication that it would improve in the coming year. The Government had decided that all persons receiving State emoluments should contribute toward the deficit. Ministers' honorariums would be reduced 15 per cent., those of members of Parliament 10 per cent, and the salaries of public servants from per cent, to 10 per cent, according to their grade. The Governor-General, Judges and Ministers Plenipotentiary would be exempted. The Government was carrying on by borrowing from the Reserve Bank and was not likely to attempt to float a loan until later in the year when the conditions might be more favourable. The value of exports from the union in 1931 had fallen more than £1,000,000 and the value of imports by £11,000,000. The Minister said he anticipated that the deficit in general revenue would be £2,000,000 and in the railways account a similar amount.