BUDGET SUMMARY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1822, 7 August 1913, Page 5

BUDGET SUMMARY.

POINTS OF INTEREST. > AN EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME. Public Debt (not) March 31, 1913: £87,157,121. Increase since March '31, 1012: XS,7QG--85U. . ~ Work already done by Public Service Commissioners shows that considerable economics can bo eli'octed ia many l/e----l>artiuents and. efficiency increased. The Government is obtaining an actuarial report on the liuiiways Superau* nuation Fund. Ail Electoral Bill will be introduced during tho present session. A Local Government Bill will be circulated this session for the consideration of members of Parliament and local bodies, • Post OfHco Savings. Bauk deposits for the year (£11,725,183) constitute a record. Interest earned on cost oi construction by the New Zealand railways during the year (£i Os. Ltd. per cent.) is the Eccond highest on record. This, notwithstanding largo increases in tho wages of the staff. The subdivision of largo estates has of late been considerably \acceleratcd. Proposals will bo submitted this sion lor graduating, the income tax on the sanio principle as tho graduated land tax of last- session. f I'inaiicial assistance is to bo given to associations of fruit-growers for the purpose of erecting canning factories and providing cold storage. Proposals to establish an agricultural college nnd experiment farms will be submitted to the Board of Agriculture. The projected amendment and consolidation of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act will embody provisions which it. is hoped will enable the parties to all industrial disputes to arrive at a peaceful settlement. . Blocks of land are to be acquired on which to erect country workers' dwellings. Local bodies are to be empowered to acquire land and erect homes for workers. The National Provident Fund during the year has made a distinct forward movement, a 9 t'hc result of an active lecturing campaign. _ ' Number of pensions in force at end of year:—Old age, 16,509; widows', 1313; military, SGB (up to date, G75). A number of additional lighthouses are being erected, . ' Reciprocal trade negotiations'- 'are suspended, pending a political settlement itt the Commonwealth. For the reason just stated, the usual practice of bringing down the proposed new Customs tariff with the l'inancial Statement has not been followed on this occasion. A consolidating Customs Bill romoving many anomalies will bo introduced later in the session. Tho gold output for the year was reduced owing to labour troubles. It is anticipated that tho output foT tho current year will bo up to the average. Coal mining is prosperous. Proposals regarding tho development of the iron and steel industry will be submitted to a cominittee'ofiexperts for examination and report. ' , ' The State Fire Insurance Office has had the most profitable year c>f its existenoe. Available Crown lands are being rapidly, settled. ■ A Land" Bill this session will further extend thie freehold policy. Operations raudcr the Land for Settlements Act show an increase on theprevious y*ar. •. , . i Tho land Settlement Finance Act is to bo amended this, session, so as to .facilitate settlement; "" -X The settlement-of Native land during tho venr has teen up to th.e average. A'. Bill extensively amending the Act of 1903 will be .intredueod shortly. Another Bill, will facilitate the collection of rates on Native lands. • ' A Bill validating the constitution of the Federal Council of the Cook Islands and, providing for tho .improvement of general conditions in the islands will be submitted this session. 1 Tire sum of .£20.000 has beeq,-invested., with the Public Trnstl'.s by way of insurancp on public buildings. ~ , _ . Legislation this session will enable private enterprise to construct'branch lines of railway. A lighter and •cheaper constvuetion cf branch lines is foreshadowed. are to be .invited -for.the com-, plelioj) of the Ol'ira tunnel. , . , The Government expects to supply 'leetrie power from Lake Coleridge by May 'The question of navel policy will shortly be submitted to-Parliament. ' Tit* l-alliM'.ip Niew Zealand cost .£1,701,C0. The final payment-has been nnd*. Pinking fund* towards tlvs cost of the l.al Hosliin have been deposited with the Public. Trustee to the amount of .#.102.208. The lean will be -repaid in. about 17 year?. Annual increnient=i .in school,, salaires are to b* incret'fd bj" from -£5 to _ .£lO (according to grade), as from January next. I ■ The sy'tem of sncml schools is to be immediately extended. : 1 Extensions in immigration policy are to"elje.'l ntKiii, • . Negotiation? ore almost completed for the lcnsinif of new offices to the High Commissions' oil a sits in the Strand (London). .... „ , „ Legislation doling with the Bank of New' Zest and b? introduced this ses-: Estimated revenue for 1913-14, j£ll,fS9,002' estimated evneuditrre, ,£11,679,074. Parliament, will be -a!k?d K authorise ■a. km to the current financial year of it.750.090. ~ , ~ . , • During the next 18 months simulated loans amounting to over JE8,000,000 must be repaid.