THE INTERIM REPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 13

THE INTERIM REPORT.

SAVINGS NEARLY £3,000,000. PENSION AND SALARY CUTS. EDUCATION TO YIELD £370,000. The interim report of the National Expenditure Commission, wKich was presented to the House of Representatives yesterday, contains recommendations which are estimated to produce savings to the Government totalling £2,976,262 for the financial year 1932-33. - . The members of the commission are George Shirtcliffe (AX-ellington), chairman; Colonel J. J. Esson (formerly Secretary of the Treasury) ; Messrs. A. Macintosh (Wellington), formerly general manager of the Bank of New Zealand; J. Begg (Dunedin), retired sheepfarmer; J. L. Griffin (Wellington), formerly president of the New Zealand Society of Accountants. Reductions in all classes of pensions, except those to disabled soldiers, are recommended. The estimated saving is £599,925. Revision of education expenditure is calculated to save £369,950, of which £50,000 is estimated to be made on administrative costs. A further general reduction of 10 per cent, in wages of public servants is proposed. A revenue stamp duty on coupons and interest warrants for Government loans, is proposed and it is suggested that a voluntary conversion scheme, giving a reduction in interest of 15 per cent., should be considered. A similar revenue stamp duty on the interest from local body loans domiciled in New Zealand is proposed, the return to be devoted to rating relief. It is recommended that the revenue from motor and allied taxation should be paid direct to the Consolidated Fund, that highways votes should be appropriated annually, and that £500,000 from motor taxation should be utilised for the assistance of the Budget. The final report of the commission is to be presented not later than May 1.