MINISTERS MEET IN WELLINGTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19238, 27 November 1930, Page 9

MINISTERS MEET IN WELLINGTON.

STATEMENT MADE BY SIR APIRANA NGATA. (Special to the “Star.”) ’WELLINGTON, November 27. Speaking on behalf of the actingPrime Minister (the Hon E. A. Ransom), the acting-Minister of Finance (Sir Apirana Ngata) stated that a special meeting of Ministers of the Crown and permanent heads of Departments had been held to-day for the purpose of discussing administrative efficiency and economy. He wished to contradict a published suggestion that the Government budgeted for a surplus of £246,000. Reference to the Budget would show that the £246,000 referred to was, at that stage of events, estimated to be available for the Supplementary Estimates and contingencies. The latter item includes unauthorised expenditure which may accrue after the Parliamentary session has ended. “Further reference to a speech in the House by the acting-Minister of Finance on the Appropriation Bill will,” said Sir Apirana Ngata, “show that at that stage there had occurred evidence of a falling off in the Customs revenue, which it was estimated would amount to at least £250,000 for the year. The steps to be taken to meet that position were indicated, and it was then hoped that by careful administration and close control over expenditure s for the second half of the year the accounts would be balanced at March 31 next. Subsequent events have confirmed the belief that not only the estimated shortage in the Customs revenue would accrue, but in addition there is a probability of a serious revenue shortage in the railway interest account compared with the amount allowed for in the Budget. Revenue and Expenditure. “The position now reached is, therefore, due to a contracting revenue and not to the possibility of expenditure proving greater than was expected. Insofar as expenditure is concerned the figures for the period ended October 31, including outstanding imprests as compared with the proportionate part of the year’s appropriations show a total reduction for the whole of the Consolidated Fund of £664,776. Whereas it is not contended that this basis is necessarily a reliable guide to the year s exenditure and results, owing to the incidence of payments, it nevertheless shows that the statement that the Government is now faced with the possibility of expenditure proving greater than was expected has no foundation in fact and is pure imagination.” Sir Apirana concluded by saying that the Government had recognised all along that this year would be a particularly difficult one from the point of view of finance and had fully taken the country into its confidence in the matter. The meeting was merely one ° u- i? C ? gs^ lll the long series of events wmen the Government had dealt.with in order to meet the economic difficulties of the times, and was an indication that the country could rely on the Government doing everything possible to keep the public finances on an even