8.—6

II

ExPENTHTUBE. The expenditure of the year, which was estimated at £22,441,057, readied £23,781,924, or £5,108,325 in excess of the expenditure of the financial year 1918-19. The details of this excess are as follow :—

Expenditure for the Year ended 31st March, 1920, compared, with the Year ended 31st March, 1919.

The annual charges for interest, sinking funds, and pensions have largely increased, whilst the expenditure of the departmental services is £2,938,114 above that of the preceding year. The increased cost of all classes of labour and materials, as well as the expansion of Departments in proportion to the increase in population, have combined to produce this result. Nevertheless, I deem it my duty to direct the earnest attention of honourable members to the growth in expenditure due to new services and increasing demands,

Year ended Year ended 31 st March, 3.1st March, 1920. 1919. Increase. Doorcase. Permanent Appropriations,— Civil List Interest and Sinking Fund Under special Acts Subsidies paid to Local Authorities Territorial llevenue Endowments Old-age Pensions Widows' Pensions Military Pensions War Pensions £ £ 26,549 28,669 7,249,426 6,086,769 1,101,289 726,047 161,085 ]10,309 24,275 46,576 134,991 150,419 698,570 709,336 136,730 80,670 45,000 50,511 1,811,146 1,199,544 £ £ 2,120 1,162,657 375,242 20,776 22,301. 15,428 10,766 56,060 5,511 (ill, 602 11,389,061 9,218,850 2,226,337 56,126 56,126 Annual Appropriations,— Legislative Departments Departments of Finance Post and Telegraph Department Working Railways Department Public Buildings, Domains, and Maintenance of Koads Native Department Justice Department Mines Department Department of Internal Affairs Mental Hospitals, Public Health, and Hospitals and Charitable Aid Departments Tourists Department Defence Department Customs, Marine, and Inspection of Machinery Departments Department of Labour Department of Lands and Survey Valuation and Electoral Departments Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce Education Department Services not provided for Transfer to Loans Redemption Account of Sinking Funds set free to redeem Debentures 44,500 189,061 1,941,494 ! 4,305,965 164,142 28,457 587,990 36,637 336,356 556,899 36,729 167,237 1,699,701 3,415,595 121,384 25,694 549,794 40,638 271,218 318,808 2,170,211 7,771 21,824 241,793 890,370 42,758 2,763 38,196 65,138 238,091 '4,001 68,858 502,465 227,474 53,656 416,427 186,561 15.202 86,038 40.913 40,016 238,365 196,242 818,567 32,954 209,403 53,070 240,465 7,062 28,962 143,172 578,102 2,031,825 77,150 400 1,602,995 12,420 428,830 64,730 400 • • 12,392,863 9,454,749 2,942,115 4,001 4,001 Totals 2,938,114 23,781,924 18,673,599 15,108,325