B. —6

As regards expenditure under votes, totalling £23,664,000, there is an estimated increase of £2,232,000, made up of " Social services, £1,222,000 " and other votes, £1,010,000. Under " Social services " the principal increases are as follows: — £ Vote, " Health" .. .. .. •• 193,000 Vote, " Education" . . .. ■. • • 162,000 Vote, " War and other Pensions " . . • • 461,000 Transfer to Social Security Fund .. .. .. 400,000 £1,216,000 In connection with other votes where the increase totals £1,010,000, this is spread fairly evenly over the majority of the votes, but the following items are mentioned, representing the larger items: — Vote, " Internal Affairs" — £ £ Cost-of-living bonuses to superannuitants .. 80,000 Payment to War Expenses Account of part value of Emergency Fire Service equipment .. 32, 000 112,000 Vote, " Island Territories " : Airport at Raratonga .. . . 81,350 Vote, " Native " : Transfer to Land for Settlements Account (largely for rehabilitation of returned Maori -exservicemen) .. 85,000 Vote, " Rehabilitation " : New vote .. .. 129,805 Vote, " Maintenance of Public Works and Services " : Chiefly for purchase of plant and materials . . . . ■ ■ 236,000 Summarizing the position, receipts into Consolidated Fund are anticipated to produce £51,500,000 and expenditure to amount to £51,197,000, leaving £303,000 available for supplementary estimates and contingencies. Expenditure out of the Social Security Fund for the current year is estimated at £18,857,000, as compared with £17,634,000 for last year, while revenue into the Fund is expected to amount to £17,875,000. This means that the expenditure is anticipated to exceed the receipts by approximately £1,000,000, but this amount will be met from the cash balance available in the Fund at the beginning of this year. Transfer from the Consolidated Fund is being increased this year from £4,100,000 to £4,500,000. The following summary shows how these figures are made up:— Expenditure £ Monetary benefits .. .. .. .. 13,337,000 Hospital, &c., benefits .. .. .. 4,853,000 £ Administration expenses .. .. 543,000 Emergency benefits .. .. .. 124,000 667,000 £18,857,000 Revenue £ Social security charge .. .. .. 12,800,000 Registration fee and miscellaneous .. .. 575,000 Transfer from Consolidated Fund .. .. 4,500,000 £17,875,000 The Government propose to introduce an amendment to the Social Security Act to ensure that New-Zealanders who served in the South African War in units other than with a New Zealand Contingent will be able to obtain the special concession payable to age-beneficiaries in terms of the present legislation.

Social Security Fund, 1944 45

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