REDUCING EXPENDITURE

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14775, 14 October 1921, Page 7

REDUCING EXPENDITURE

DEPARTMENTAL SAVINGS. WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. MORE YET TO BE DONE. (By Telegraph.—Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Prime Minister made a statement to the House to-day regarding economies in the State Department. He quoted some portions of a report from the Treasury returns collected from the Department. These showed that a saving of £202,366 had been made in salaries and wages, and a saving of £704,67 4 in respect of other services. This made a lotal recent saving of £907,040 per annum. In addition to this total, savings secured by the withdrawal of subsidies amounted to £646,093. Then savings In interest and sinking fund to the amount of £98,8 45 had been effected by utilising the funds in the ordinary revenue account instead of borrowing for various purposes. Another saving had been effected by demobilising 809 officers and other employees, whose salaries and wacres had been charged chiefly (n the War Expenses Account. The saving in ibis respect amounted to £240,000. The saving in Ihe Post and Telegraph Department had been roughly £75,000; in the Railway Department, £4 45,000: in the Internal Affairs Department, £40,000: and in the Defence Department, £IOB,OOO. The Prime Minister added that, he thought these official documents would remove the impression which appeared to exist, in some quarters that little nr nothing had been done to effect economics and bring public expenditure within the revenue. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr T. M. Wilford) asked why ihe Government had been so long about the task. Mr Massey; I commenced a year ago. I n m not in the habit of going about telling people what I intend to do; I prefer t.q tell them what lias been done. A good start has been made, but a very great deal more requires to be done, and I will have to ask the assistance of the House in that, respect before the session comes to an end.