THE LEAGUE BUDGET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19008, 2 November 1923, Page 5

THE LEAGUE BUDGET.

substantial eeductions. SIR JAMES ALLEN’S WARNING. (Feom Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, September 19. Sir James Allen, who is known as the “Geddes cf the was the chief figure at a meeting of the Financial Commission of the League of Nations this week. The Supervisory Commission submitted a report on further reductions to bo made m the Budget estimates for 1924. They recommended a total reduction of approximately 1,500,000 f. The reductions include 580,0C0f for sessions of the assembly, salaries and wages, publications, printing, and travelling expenses; 442,000 f reduction is on account of the amount proposed for addition to the working capital funds, and is in effect no real saving. The balance is from cuts in the expenses of the technical organisations, including transit, international wealth, social questions, reduction of armaments, international blockade, international bureaux and loss on exchange. This means that over half a million gold francs is to be saved on technical organisations. The commission agreed to the proposals of the Supervisory Commission except as regards salaries, the report on the cost of Irving and pensions not yet having been submitted. A PRACTICE WITHOUT PRECEDENT. Sir James Allen said that the proposed reductions in the technical organisations affected the policy of the League, and needed most careful consideration. He reminded the commission that la,st year, when the League sent up an estimate of the amount that would be required for intellectual co-operation, the assembly on its own account increased the vote. Sir James said that he knew of no Parliament in the world in which such a thing could be done, tne power of members being to reduce items and not to increase them. In the case of the League and the assembly there did not appear to be anything in the constitution which would prohibit the assembly from increasing a vote, but it was an extremely dangerous thing if an expert committee had recommended that a certain sum was sufficient and the assembly : voted an increase. This practice, if followed out, might lead to a very serious lack of economy. He thought it essential that there should be some understanding as between the I) manee Commission and the assembly with reference to budget proposals, and he asked his colleagues in considering proposals to deal with them very carefully, and to make sure that the proposals they were making were sound. Then, having come to the conclusion that these economies could be affected, it seemed to\him to be tne duty of every member of that commission to stand bv their proposals when they reached the assembly. Sir Rennell Rodd proposed a postponement of consideration ot the matter.