THE ESTIMATES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17350, 24 July 1924, Page 12

THE ESTIMATES.

INTERESTING POINTS, (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, July 23. The sum of £1,250.000 is set aside by the Department of Industries and Commerce to establish a credit for the purchase of wheat. This is necessary owing to the fact that approximately four million bushels of wheat will have to be imported. The amount is recoverable. Last year the sum set aside was £25,000 and the sum expended was £49.664. As a result of increased pay granted to the police last October, totalling £11.500. and an increase of strength of twenty-five additional constables in New Zealand, costing £6380, the Police Department estimates salaries for the vear at £324,072. Last year’s figure was £305,055. The sum of £26,455 having already been expended on account of the British Empire Exhibition, the Department of Industries and Commerce provides an additional £50,000. Provision is made by the Mines Department for payment of £4885 bounty to the Onakaka Iron and Steel Company, Ltd., under the Iron and Steel Industries Act, 1914. The company has already produced considerable quantities of pig-iron and may be eligible for bounty this year. The Mines Department expects to make certain experiments in connection with the utilisation of brown coals during this year. These experiments will be carried out in England, the fee being 130 guineas, for which provision is being made in the Estimates. The sum of £BSO is provided for in the Department of Internal Affairs estimates to assist in the reduction of deer herds in certain acclimatisation districts. The visit of the Imperial Special Service Squadron involved the New Zealand Government in an expense of £II,OOO. Several grants to public bodies are provided for by the Department of Internal Affairs. The sum of £IO,OOO, which was voted to the Imperial Institute last year, but which was withheld pending a decision regarding future policy, has been repeated. The sum of £IOO is again allotted the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. New grants include £IOOO to the New Zealand Institute for Research Work, and £75 to each of the four chief centres of tlie Protection of YV omen and Children Society. Provision to pay £IOO this year as portion of the £ for £ subsidy up to £75,000 on account of the new museum buildings, Wellington, is being made by the Department of Internal Affairs. The money is earmarked as towards the erection of tho museum The Health Department, owing to the greatly increased demand for sera, hi, s a vote of £5500 for their purchase. V.D. eludes under the Department cost £3023 last year, but the vote is reduced to £IOOO owing to Hospital Boards undertaking the responsibility. Dental clinics and travelling .ambulances in connection therewith require £7OOO. Plunket nurse subsidies ;tc the rate of £125 lor each fully trail: ed nurses, will absorb £11,500. The Naval defence vote is increased by £45,000 to a total of £330,466. the expenditure on fuel for H.M S Chatham was £22,251. H.M.S. Dun edin is expected to require £16.000 to.oil fuel. The oil-conveying steamer Nucula is being hired from tho Ad

miralty for transport of oil fuel to the Dominion and attending on 11-JVi. ships. This requires a vote of £16,500. Purchase and freight of guns for local defence vessels is estimated at £II,OOO. It is intended to purchase five four-inch guns annually until fifty have ueen obtained. In explanation oi tho item of £21,000 for tho erection of oil tanks at Devonport, it is stated that tho Admiralty have advised tho provision of a reserve stock of 10,060 tens of oil fuel independent of commercial supplies, Tho increased vote includes £12,000 for a second tank. It is proposed to inaugurate a naval reserve of officers, for which £-1000 is required. The Defence Department's vote of £387.923 is £39,00) in excess of expenditure lust year. The principal increases are in new issues and uniforms, £12,000, compared with £6892 expended last year ; field and heavy gun ammunition; £8400; ordnance stores, £20.060 (increase £6000) ; small arms, £52,080 (increase £12,000). Tivaiicraft vole, £29,730, shows little change. It includes £17.236 for the purchase of aircraft, and supplies. 'The Marine Department explains n £IOO vote for inspection of machinery piosecutions is due to the prospect of a larger number The sum of £ISOO is asked for expenses in con nect ion with salmon hatcheries, as mere extensive works are contemplated. The Agriculture Department rotes include :—For destruction of rabbits on Crown lands £IO,OOO, on Native lands £7500; subsidies ‘to Rabbit Boards, £13,000. The Government guarantee on fruit export involved an expenditure of £5687 am* a further vote ot £IO,OOO is being taken for the current year. The sum of £2OOO is voted for agricultural instruction. and £IOOO for co-operative field experiments. The education vote, £2,758,000. shows an increase, of £154,000. An additional £3OOO is voted for school committees and increases aje distributed among all the principal items owing to increased attendances. Tlie M orkers Education Association grant is increased from £SOO to £IOOO. Agricultural bursaries are increased from ten to twelve, education bursaries from fifty-four to rtinoiy-four. A new vote of £250 is taken for rewards for evidence and payment for prevention of desrlruetion of schools by fire. Under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Account £21,P00 is required for expenses of revaluation boards, and £13,448 was expended last year. Estimated recoveries from other departments total £12,0Q0. The Main Highways Account now figures in the estimates with a vote of £175,000. Accumulated credits under the Main Highways Act at March 31 totalled £219,681. Tho estimated receipts for 1924-25 are £130,000. The State Forest servico includes £ISOO for the establishment of a forest experimental station in the Rotorua idistrict to determine the most effective means 'of growing timber in the indigenous forests of the North Island. A vote of £2607 for testing equipment includes provision for an experimental drying kiln. Expenditure on War Services Account last year was £159.131, and a further vote of £207,762 is required, which includes refunds to the Pensions Department for the treatment cf returned soldiers, £IOO.OOO for adjustment with tho Imperial authorities regarding shipping, £11,009 to complete the cost of six battle exnloit memorials at £SOOO each, and £25.000, being New Zealand’s proportion of the expenses of the Imperial War Graves Com mission. The State Advances Account includes a vote of £17.550 to cover losses on the realisation of assets taken over

from the Labour Department’s housing branch. A subsidy of £125 to the Westland Shipping Company, Ltd., in respect of the steamer service to tho Chatham Islands, is being made by the Justice Department. This includes provision for six months to August. 1924 The equivalent of a salary payment of £303. in lieu of six months’ leave of absence on retirement, is being made by the Justice Department to- Mr A H. Holmes, registrar of tlio Supremo Court at Christchurch. There is a vote of £750 lor the hospital at Christchurch. A sum of £15.(300 is required for Hanmer Hospital and it is explained that..the item will be increased when tho - neif hospital for women is openTJie Lands Department -provides £450 foi protective works at Clarence River stech reserve -and £250 part payment of Summit Road purchase money. The Agriculture Department takes .» T 'ote of £2OOO for the W uimuuuga farm, "West Coast, as it is intended to commence dairying ibis year. The Tourist- Department * >;.» includes £2Ol for mom v misapp: oprialrd in U Christchurch uihe: