DEFENCE VOTE REDUCTION

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1930, Page 8

DEFENCE VOTE REDUCTION

SUSPENSION OF ALL CAMPS ECONOMIES BY GOVERNMENT. DETAILS OF THE ESTIMATES. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. Details of the reduction in the defence vote are revealed in the. estimates presented in the House to-night with the Budget. It is proposed jto make a reduction of £216,667 in the military defence expenditure, the greatest saving being made by the elimination of camps. It is proposed to reduce the pay and allowances of territorials attending camps by £22,000 and make a decrease of £17,000 in expenditure on supplies, catering and allowances in lieu of rations for camps and courses of instruction. In salaries, a saving of £10,687 is effected, while there are considerable savings under the headings of purchases, maintenance and training. The vote for the issue of uniforms” drops- by £14,000, and that for laundering and renovating part-worn uniforms by £5500. The expenditure on field and heavy gun ammunition and other explosives is to be decreased by £17,000, and on miscellaneous stores by £9500. Other re* ductions include: Maintenance of camps, drill halls and offices, £6000; grants towards maintenance of units and bands. £4583; horse hire and the provision of horses, £2000; lighting, £2000; hire of offices and parade grounds, £1500; prizes for rifle shooting, £1580; rail fares and freight's, £8000; shipping charges, £5500; steamer fares, £1000; travelling allowances and expenses, £5000; uniform allowances to members of permanent and territorial forces, £2OOO. - ■ Tie appropriation for salaries for members of the aviation branch is increased by £1689, but the proposed expenditure on the purchase of aircraft-, marine craft spares and miscellaneous equipment is reduced by £12,220. The grant to aero clubs in respect of pupils qualifying for private pilots’ certificates is increased by £lOOO.