GEDDES ECONOMY COMMITTEE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16668, 25 February 1922, Page 9

GEDDES ECONOMY COMMITTEE.

THE THIRD REPORT, MORE DRASTIC "CUTS.” By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australi&a end N.z. Oablo Association. (Received February 26, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 24. In its final report the Geddes Economy Committee says its is confident that, as a result of the decision reached at the Washington Conference, it will be possible to make reductions in naval expenditure and in oil stocks and military garrisons abroad, exceeding £13,600,(XX). thus making the total economies £100,000,000. The reductions proposed in the third report include : £ Colonial group . 2,286,600 Revenue Department 6,509,200 Public works and buildings .... 896.000 Stationery, office and Registrar-General’s office ... 584.300 Foreign Office • . , 304,300 The committe does not suggest any further modifications in the Colonial Secretary’s arrangement for the Middle East, which appears likely to reduce the provision for 1922-23 to £10,500,000 compared with £13.000,000, which is included in the provisional Estimates. Regarding the overseas settlement scheme, the Colonial Office considers that £750,000 will be required in 192223 for free passages. The Treasury thinks that this is an over-estimate', and that £500.000 should suffice. The Post Office estimates include £450,000 for plant and buildings in connection with the Imperial wireless chain, of which the total cost to Britain will be £BOO,OOO As the expert? approve of the present scheme, and much preliminary work has been completed, the committee makes no recommendation in that, connection. It has proposed a reduction of £471.000 on tho revised Post Office Estimates, chiefly in connection with the postal staffs and the postal, telegraph and telephone services. Regarding the pay of the Navy, Army nnd Police forces, and other State employees, numbering nearly 1,250,000, the committee points out that the pay of the instructors to the fighting force was fixed in 1916 under quite abnormal circumstances. Tho country could not continue to support a burden of this magnitude. The committee does not make an recommendation, but suggests a thorough special investigation by the most expeditious and .authoritative means available. The ©ommittee is convinced that great economies can be realised in the fighting services if the Treasury’s control over them is vastly i£icreased and brought up to the standard obtaining* in the Civil departments.. The committee’s report conclude©: — 4 It believes that the reductions proposed are retainable if the Departments act promptly on the lines suggested with a determination to effect economies We do not lay claim to infallibility of judgment, but the report is the unanimous recommendation of five men of goodwill who are desirous of advising how the National Budget can best be balanced.** Tho report suggetrt© that criticism can only ho constructive if it is accompanied by concrete alternative proposals. WAR PENSIONS. Th© committee suggests the reduction by a further £3,000.000 off war pensions, making a total reduction of £86.844,175.