THE BUDGET.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2222, 7 August 1914, Page 8

THE BUDGET.

< IMPORTANT POLICY PROPOSALS.

■ \ PENSION BENEFITS. ■-••,;■ CONTROLOF LOCAL WORKS. :■■'( l LOANS FOR ROADING. , . ;. CUSTOMS TARIFF REVISiON, Probably...-a. Financial Statement has never' been delivered under such, extraordinary' .circumstances as those tinder wliich the Hon.' James Alien read his Budg«tVin : -the .House of Representatives -last'fnight. The galleries were,. as usual, ■crowdecl when Mr. Speaker • took the chair,' but before Mr. Allen began to speak the Opposition members, with nil the labourites, followed their leader out of the Chamber, and tho Statement-was delivered to the Government ' members only. , . ,\. ■ ■ - ' ■ / Sir Joseph Ward had protested earlier an-tho-day'that ,the Statement being, as he "said, a documo'it calculated to provoke party 'stnfoy ought not to be read at the present-Vcritijal time.. He repeated this protest last night, and. intimated that it the Government went on with the presentation of the' Budget he, with members on his sideVof. the. House, would leave.the Chamber.'lS.ubsequehtly 'speeches; ..were; .G.-.W.Russell, ant Mr, Payne 'which seemed to show that party strife 'quite .so .absent-from the •ltinds'of.'Some of the Opposition os- their leader had.-sought. .to .suggest, ■ ■ Mr. Massey pointed out that it was.im- ■ possible :in..view of promises made, ; ,to newspapers.and to the people of. the country to postpone the reading of the btatemlnt, anOe pointed ;^t .furthery that thrß.udgeßid not in itself contain anjtliihg of a provocative character. . It was Biniply a plaiu statement, of. the cou.ntryi finances, and of. certain of the more : iniportaritnif;nhc Government's. ™licymopc4ls. He-!admitted,tt-at in the. debate ■oii the Budget : it .was usual, and. quite iproper to-introduce, party questions,, tat SSt,S|.satisfy *^urnb^ :^^ e s^^S^o^of^ Cl^tatement ; to; a rep^lat«..m MB mm mm \n direct Davments, about iSd.OUU. in The Minister asked members;to tear m mind, when comparing the past year. and expenditure those ol previous-years, that a great proporUoi of the territorial revenue now w-ent mtc the Land for lnsteai of into, the Consolidated Pund. For pur poses of comparison'a sum of i!BI,OGGJre presenting, the territorial revenue whicl in past years would have gone into th« Cdnsolidated Fund) should.be added t< the' surplus. , In addition the Govern ment has" made 'a departure by . settmi aside XIO.OOO a'year.out of revenue d)ii ing the last two years to build up a far insurance fund for public buildings. 1 make the Public Service and leachen Supcronnuation Funds financially soUn : the Government has had to provide eac. year out'of revenue au additional amour of ■ *..;-?•■' ' : - '•■■■'■ '• Revenue and Expenditure. ■The revenue foi-:the year was estimate at Ji11,750,602, but .' the total collechoi amounted to or i excess', of ''the- estimate. -There, was a increase-of over the revenue ft 1912-13'. - iThe' principal increases (ov< the estimate)'were: Customs, Stamps, .£221,971. Railway revenue ,wt short of tho estimate by Tl revenue for the past year exceeded th! of 1911-12 hy .£1,191,7!)5. " The , expenditure for the year w; .£11,825,864, less: than , tho eat liiate. Compared with tho figures for- tl .previous 1 year the perinaneut appropn tions, which totalled: show( ah: increase of £1.83,90-1, and annual a protiriatiohs,'. which totalled .£7,559,7. showed hniincrease of ; _' .- Total■'-increase.in expenditure over tl provious year, £H3,SiG; t ..' . Interest-giid sinking fund charges i creased" '& year /by iil7fl,9Gß. _ : '/ : in tho Post ai TeTegraphis department increased I .filGi.in.Trf-.the working Railway. Depai nicnf-by -"4187,010, and in tho Departme of InteriilFAffairs by Expenditure in the Defence Departme showed a;decrcaso of Some of the Increases. ' Tho increase in. interest and sinlci: fund, charges wasaccounted for by..t increased " indebtedness of the Domini' and by :thg;fac't that interest had to found for"a"considerable amount.of loa money raised for the purpose of redee ing'other loans about to mature. Mon so raised was not allowed to be idle. Per -ing the redemption of the .£4,500,000 lo on.July 1 the loan moneys were tempi arily invested and earned interest • tailing .£62,400. Other amounts were sir ■ lbrly invested. The-increased expenditt in the Department of Internal Affairs attributable to expenses incurred in c< nection with ■ the. striko and- the smt pox - epidemic. . None of the Treasury bills issned, ■ anticipation of revenue were outstai ing on. March 31, .1914, and it was i found necessary for the Government any time duriiiß the year to raise moi by-pledging the Reserve-Fund secunt held in London. Public Works Fund. The balance in this fund from 1 year was .£620.741. Receipts during Iho year total .£3,337,650 (including .£070,000 transfer from revenue), making tho total aiw available JE3,«J01,391. • - - " Expenditure for: the year total JC2,785,507 (appropriations, .£2,421,807; bentures redeemed, . leaving balance at Jlareh 31, 1914, of 41,178 ' (including JC2M/F7G for redemption ot bentures). With a balance ol .E227 lean money to receive the amount av able with which to start'the cun year is 41,400,212. . The Public Dobt. The gross public debt at the end of financial jear amounted to 499,7:10, and the liet debt to ,£91,069,835. To eiid of the year 451,959,593 hod been rowed for public works; 49,511,625 advances .to settlers; .£3.286,927. for ' 'vetoes to workers; 47,803,893 for land' ' settlement;, and 42,568,067 for adva to local authorities.Sinking funds aggregated 43,063 Thg remaining difference betweeu

;ross and net debt is accounted for by an uiiount of cW/JTCCOO, redemption money ;wice included. ' . ■'■'' ~ The- actual increase-.to the 'country s indebtedness during' tho . yuar was £1,G!)3,0G4.V ' ' - . ■- : ■ ■' 'Redemption of Loans, In the, Budget last year it was pointed jut that during the period from July,. 1. Ill] 3,' to March 31, 1915, loans , . ainouiitniK to . would -mature. Of this total.no less a sum than J:5,727,700 was lield outside New' Zealand, aiitl provision liad'tb'boinado for redemption of tins sum at maturity. The .Government-was ible to borrow in London on favourable :erms a-total amount of .£5,194,1100, which ivill suffice to meet all loans falnnj due in London up to the' end of November, L 914. Tho'abovo sum of liijludcs tho whole of the. four and a halt million- two-years' loans of Mil, and tho unconverted portion of the hvc-nulliou loan of'l9lo, amounting to ■ .63,142,600. Iniddition,' tho Government has had to Sorrow for purposes of public works, tulranoes, ■•settlement, etc. The £4,506,000 loan raised by the Mackenzie Government m' June 7, 1912, matured'on Julyl last, ind was repaid out of moneys; raised for its redemption on October .9, 1013 WOO,WO); January 15, 1914 0*100,000); January Vi, 1914 (,£1,000,000). . ■ . Tho Government has introduced legislation which will enable more .'favourable, arrangements to be made in. future regarding the charges levied, for the inscription of stock. , ,•„, Tne Public Debt Sinking Fund, held by the Superintendent of the' State Advances Office, with interest accrued, now amounts hi' ,£164.258. and is invested in loans to settlers', workers, and local ' authorises. The auio«nt to be provided out of revenue during' the current financial year is £169,404. , ' . ' , ' Bank of New Zealand. . Negotiations were recently entered into with the Bank.of. New Zealand , with the object of thoroughly revising the agreement which has- existed between the Treasury and the bank smeq 1893. ihe new agreement is to : be laid upon, the table of the Hoiise, and the Minister deolarod his confidence that it would prove satisfactory.: to members. , ._.'. '.'■ . v '. State 'Advances. . ' .';.' The Minister dealt at some length with the , position of the. State Advances Office anil said-- that the result of. the years working.showed.a profit 0f;.£81,894 in- the St-ttlers' Branch, .'and ,i!10,141> in 'the Workers': Branch, while .the Local Authorities' Branch showed a small loss _ot ,£3129, which was not unexpected. He added that .last year's Budget.showed.the unsatisfactory condition,-of ■ the ■ funds available' for .lending purposes, in "June 1912.' , He was pleased to be able to. inform' the , . House.that there:were now ample' , .funds- at. the.. disposal o£ the-;De-pa>tmetit'for lending. Prior, to the date when the assumed office the lending: operations of tho Department .had to vbe restricted .'owing' to; insufficiency of capital. As .funds became more plenty fut -.and 'previous commitments- >>a<l• >,?fii provided for the limits which; had been placed'upon loans' by .'the Advances Board ■ until' in June last the ■Government 'was in. a position to.-remove the'restrictions altogether.- A great-change.-has , taken place in:the Local Authorities' '.-Branch, ■■.-especially,. : .The' large/commitments' , with' insufficient'funds to meet them, which. existed during the early part of 1912-13 have been provided for and' a. good credit balance' has been established. ■"■ • ■ The following table shows the principal position of the three branches at March 31, 1912, .1913, and 1914/.- . •■; .'commitments;■ ■ '•:. MaVch March , March ■31,1912. 31,1913. 31,1914. £ ■Ji ■ ■ ' £ Advances to-set- ".-•"■- ■ ' ,;' tiers ..158,685 132,260 230,675 Advances to-. . -..-'■-. ■ . - -workers ....... 557;523 62,849 :187,000 Mv'a'aies'to local ="••.' .'i-.-i' ;■;.;'.'■.■. ■ ■mithorities ~.,821,515. 676,905. 262,22! '•■'"''■■ :" ; ; : 1<538.023 872,014 - 679,00( ;■■■■ ■•" punds.; ■■.■'- . .': ■■; . Advances to set--' '■' '■.• ' ■■.;.. tiers .....:...,..'519,40r .611,790 '.795,61; Advances' to workers. ....... 1,215-187,505 283,18. Advances to local ■•■ ■■ ' < authorities ...163,643 410,031 555,47' .'■ '.--■... ■. 684,259,1,209,380 1,634,30: legislation to' amend the LpcaV Bodies :Loans Act will be'- introduced this session ' extending the purposes for which -loan may be authorised by the Advances Board ■ important Railways Proposals,; Full details respecting the railways wil be published in the Kailways St'atemeri and General Manager's report, l 'which con I tain very important proposals.. They wil ie laid on the table of the House befor the Financial Debate opens. . .. ' Land Tax/ , ; The land .tax for 1 - the year, was ,£267.45' collected : from . 40,889 taxpayers- holdin land of a taxable,value , of ,£140,418,401), ji against colkcted from- 30,355 ta? payers on a valuation.of ■^106,198,550' i 1908-9. Increases in the fivo'-years :—Ta: able value,- .£34,249,856; tax, ,£162,551; ta: payers, 10,034.;, ', ■ ■. . . . :■ ~. (Graduated Land Tax. ' The comparison between the number i payers of graduated land tax and tl amounts assessed 'for 1908-9,' and. for 1913-: is as .•-. .',..: , ::'•.■' '':.. Amount . Numbe; ' : - .'- '\. '. ./assessed. ;, ; of ; Tear. • ;' '."• ■ . ,'JB ■' ■ : 'payers. ■ 191344 .:.......:.., 84,185,276. -6148. .1908-9 .......v:...-58,'137,718/ ... 4471 \ ;';'■ -.•Increases- ....;; . ■,' 1677 The .explanation■ of tho- increase, ;'tl ' Minister, stated, ,wa» to. Iμ fciind in tl large acoretibn to tho;.unimproved yah of. the -land-of tho'Dominion since; 1908viz., from to • J! , 212,936,0fl thus bringing, niore estates into the gra< uated class., .while-it-also increases . tl value,'of those which were 'already in: i The increase of .32 per cent in the tot unimproved value of the land in : the D minion has produced an increase of per. cent, the amount assessed jf, ordinary- tax and has 'added' 32 per cen to the/number of ordinary taxpayers, has also, produced; aii increasb, of 4-i p pent, in the amount assessed lor grad ateiltax, and an-increase o?-37 per cer in the. number, of .gradcated taxpayei These ' results, tho Minister . Tem'arke seemed to furnish conclusive eviden ;hat the amendments of the Valuation land' Act -with' reference to. the valuatii of .improvements. passed last session hi not operated* in the direction of nullii ing the increase'in the graduated lai tax. ~Several specific instances are."givi of the. increassd graduated taxation.' u dor the new scale. An esti\te valued ,£31,665 pays JC27 IBs. stl. more than fc merly, and.an.estato, valued at>£7o;s pays iC93 10s. 7d. more tlian under t! old- scale. . Siibdivisiin of Estates. Details regarding the subdivision estates which we-e §iven by the Jlin tcr showed that during tho year thirt ono persons,owning land of an unimprc ed value of c£3o,'ooo and upwards,, so 120,748 acres to 142 persons, wlich show that the holdings of thirty-one ■ porso wore decreased by an average of 3895 aci each , . These -figures, Mr. Allen adds considered in conjunction with the grc increase in the •unimproved value of t land of the Dominion, afforded good e , deuce of the effect of tho. graduated t in inducing enbdivision, of cffates. Otli methods exist of compelling siibdivisic The Government is of opinion, the Mi ister stated, that for the present tht several provisions for ,closer settlem.c suffice, but will, not hesitate to act citt by increase of the graduated land tax otherwise, lh'order to bring about t closer settlement which is so much < sired. . ; ■ . . A tablei appended to the Budget sho that during tho last two years and 'quarter -2316-rural freeholds pr'ivali owned have been subdivided into CI9G si ' divisions, the total area• beuij; J ,125,1 ' 'acres. In ad:htiah, 710,033 acres of ord ' ary Crowu lands have .been subdiviii i during the same.period. Ten estates hr 1 been acquired under the Land foi - Sett ' meht Act, 191 li 'aggregating 23,052 acr ' No less than 83,800 acres of Nativo la vested in tho Maori Land Boards hi been disposed of for closer settlement i • : Income Tax. [ Income tax receipts for 1913-11, as co ; pared with 1912-13, were as follows:— ' ■ 1913-14 554.271 j :; 1012-13 462,994, Increase '•' .91,277 Of this increase approximately .£SO, jras .Jua to the amendment. in the ro

chargeable, and the balance .£41,000, to the additional income assessed. '■'■. w . Agribulture. After- making -some general references to agricultural ■ progress and, prosperity, Mr. Allen , ; mentioned that one of the subjects' to bo considered liy tho Board of Agriculture, would be that of the establishment of a system of agricultural banks, :.with the object of still further assisting. struggling settlers. .■■•■:. Workers' Dwellings. Last year's expenditure on workers' dweljngs hi town unci country was M2,U", while the current year's programme comprises 205 dwellings,, entailing a gross expenditure of approximately JiIOO.OOO. During- the six years prior to the Goverument taking office 210 workers' dwellings were erected at a cost of .£146,622. JNc fewer than 305 have been built since at a cost of In this respect the Government are'doing all that they can to keep rents within reasonable limite, and at tho same time to provide comfortable home's for both town and country workers. ....'. •■ The National Provident Fund. A Bill will be brought in this session to amend the National Provident Fund in the direction of enabling, local bodies to join the fund, and confer upon their employees tho benefit of a national superannuation fund. The Bill will also enable trade- 'and industrial unions, by resolution, to join, the fund, and will materially increase the conditions ot married women contributors.'., . There was a substantial increase m th< membership of the fund during the year. The number-of entrants at December 31, 1913, was 5787, as compared with 2660 a year earlier. Tie total number of appli : cations for enrolment received at the en* of the financial year. March 31, 1911, had reached 7538,. and the funds- in hand amounted to £635,000. : . ■. '. - ''.: Pension Benefits and Proposals. After iwiewing the existing position oi old age and other pensions, .the Ministei stated that the' Pensions Act. will be further amended this session.. At'present, pensions payable to the children of widow: hti limited 'to; four children in each faniily It .is'proposeil that in future tho pensioi shall be paid in respect of each anil.everj child -wider Hie age of 14 years. E«adents of'the-Cook Islands are to.be admitted'" to the benefits of' the Militarj Pensions Act'from which, they are.(it present excluded. '.Pensibhers who leave th< Dominion (e'uipprn'rily. are'at'.present, dobarled from-drawing- thopension wind has accrued in their'absence. This anom-aly-will I)o'remedied. British women wh< have, uiuler the existing■•'law, lost then nationality 'by marriage with aliens ar< to'be made eligible for,pension .benefit! arid a further-, amendment will enable t woman whose husband is an inmate ol a -mental hospital to qualify for- t widow's pension;; A-Bill is to ,bo intro duced this session which will make pro vision -'for miners who • have been inca pacitated from earning 'a livelihood- bj .the. disease known as-, miners' phthisis Provision is to be made to further exemp the home 3 of pensioners from comput&tioi as 'disqualifying property by continuihj the full pension to a surviving nmrriei partner in cases where tho value of pro perty. left by th'o deceased would har< had the effect of - decreasing or extinguish ing the pension. ' .' ' • ■ ■ -. i Legislation dealing with other, import ant reforms such as invalids', pensions'anc •pensions for -tho blind' is. to be. subuiittei as soon as. circumetanccs.-permit:.' .'•..... Land Purchase. / During'tho ycixt 141,827 acres of land valued at' .6560,497, were" purchased an< offered for settlement... -.-•'. , "■■- \ ■■■ :, : Public Works. - ..Expenditure for the year on new rail wavs' amounted , to , .£606,448- for new line and ,£198,448 for additions to open linef a total of .£1,104,896. The expenditure 6; roads and bridges from all funds durin, the year by grant and subsidy aniountio to i49G,2i)1. ' ; '■: Proposed Loan. . Authority will be sought to raise Public Works loan iof -.£2,000,1100. ' Special Provision for Reading. The Government has decided to as Parliament , for authority- to rais .£1,000,000, the expenditure to sprea over three years and the iLoney, to fc used for the formation and metalling c roads in those districts'where roadine i most urgently, required. It is propose that the expenditure shall be under th cuntrol of the Public AVorks or that authority shall bo issued to :.di( trict local bodies'capable-of carrying oi the undertaking successfully:-. Customs Reforrn, The Government had intended, the' Mii ister stated,- to undertake a imrfial n vision of tho Customs tariff this ses-sioi but the grave crisis which now tbrea 'eiied the trade and commerce of the cr ilised world made it' imperative, that i tiring should be doiio this' year to fu ther aggravate the troubles already ui ■turbinj our com'nier:e.'-It was recognise however 'that •tariff .reform was day 1 day becoming, ttiore .urgently necessar and that thevoexisted an enormous aggr gatiou of-anomalies.-.iThe Governmei \ pioposcd next ycar-to introduce.legisl tibh which.would adjust the existing a 'oinah'es and, es far as the tariff cou du it, make the conditions of life easic Proposalswoultl also bo submitted to pr vent'"dumping" into-■ New Zealandcerta'iiwgoods told by/foreign trusts ar combines and legislation' to .protect loc ■lnahufocturers and the public general against unfair ..competition ..would i quire to l>e of-a. very drastic characw Reforming Local Government. One of tke most important proposa outlined in the Budget relates to Go ernment contributions to local worl Municipal Councils alone,at present hatheir subsidies, determined by a .perma ent Act and hold a statutory appropn tion. : .Other'local authorities which present receive subsidies—counties, ro: boards, and town bcords—have the co tribution of the country determiuNl eai year in'the Appropriation Act. / The Go eriiineu't proposes to establish . all. su 'sidies at th.e present -rate by statutory a propriation' and to-provide a further su equal' to o'ne-fourtli of the total subsidi and to place 'that siini., annually in t hands of an'independent toard for all cation 'among the districti , which, for pa ticular reksons, rpquire special assistan from"'tho State.' \ . . .' For the present system.of grants fro the Public Works Fund towards the cc of local works, l>y annual appropnatu the Government intends to substitute i . impartial and absolutely, non-politic system for the apportionment of that pa of tho Public Works Fund which is ava ablo iii. any year for aid to local worli A furthe'r lavgc provision for the • i lief of local finances is proposed. O: duty of tho non-political Board will to determine what are and-what are n main arterial roads, and to what exte ■Government funds should be applied the construction and maintenance of sui roads hi relief, wholly Or.in. part, of t! funds of local authorities.-■ In regard tho main roads tho decision of tho Boa is.to be subject to .the approval of tl 'House: The intention of :the Governme is to establish a definite Vule that wbr of special interest and advantage to locality should be provided by. that.;! cality, while works such os arterial roa should be one of the burdens on the B minion's finances. The effect upon f annual finances of local authorities .w be practically tho same as a-largo i creriso of the annual subsidies. >■ , ' Finance, 1914-15,. Out of the year's surplus it is propos to .set aside' J310,i300 as the nucleus of 'fund for the building of a new steamer replace the Ilincnioa. So far as the Co ' solidated Fund is concerned, the Jlinist summed up the year's financo as follow 1 -. •.'..'■ '-. £ ' Surplus March 31, 191* illiSl . Estimated revenue,'l9l4-15 ....... ,12,488,3 ! Estimated expenditure 12,406, : ] i . - •• 'H 8 ' 8 . Transfer to Public Works ....... ■ USO,C ; Balance available for fiupplei meutary Estimates -... <£98,S A War Postscript. Appended.to the Statement was a po: . script in which the Minister mention that his Budget- had been prepared pri to the declaration of war. lie also ci iihnsisQtl the financial and cominerci stability of tho-Dominioii, rind dealt wi tho subject' of'food prices us'. report ol.lewhcre. The. concluding paragraph tho postscript was as follows:— [J ." Finally, may Itie-Almiglitj. Givei

of all that is good protect our lung, his representatives and councillors wherever they may be; may Ho guide • them in their deliberations; may His protecting arm be over all our people, and especially over tho soldiers and sailors who aro called upon at tins time to make it, maybe, the supremo sacrifice' for.. King and Empire. ■ THE ESTIMATES The Estimates of expenditure circulated with the Budget provide for-a total appropriation of 41!1,513,5G5. It is unnecessary to add that I.he ■Estimates vera prepared long before there was any declaration of war. , Following are. some'of tho votes for the various Departments, with some of Uie more interesting details, the. amount expended under the same heading last year belli" shown in every case in .parentheses: Civil List: 4324,300. («C32,071). Permanent charges, being interest and sinking fund on loans owl votes under special Acts: Total'interest and sinking fund, .£3,059,069 (42,887,981). Total under special Acts, 41,31)9,457 (41,316,036). • Legislative Departments: 43i,233 ■(.£47,233). Items-Salary to Mr. , H. Otterson, clerk of House of Representatives, for three months in lieu of leave on retirement after session, 41G3, „,.„ ' Departments of Finance: .£199,8(3 (•£68,1)84). The difference is largely made up, of the following items—Naval defence •6100,000 (which is merely the amount p£ the subsidy to the Imperial Navy, usually shown elsewhere); amount reoeived.on deposit of State , Advances Loans credited to miscellaneous revenue now .refunded to State Advances Offices, £14,500; refund of interest overcharged State ' Advances Office on loan instalments,. 419,502. Of tlie amount of .£IOO,OOO for naval defence above referred to 450,000 is appropriated for the subsidy to the Admiralty, and ,£50,000 for the maintenance of the PhilPost and Telegraph Department: Salaries, 4755,971 (469^08)... Items-Destruc-tion of stores, ' 4450;. fraudulent withdrawals (3), 43G; forged, bank notes- at Auckland, 420;; pensions, for'officers retired whose allowance from the superannuation fund is undpr 452 per annum, 4100; Whakamatau burglary, 4255. . ; ''• Railways: . 43,030,000 (42;880,323). The estimated gross revenue is 44,250,000, the actual revenue for.last year having been 44,0«,5?8. "■...-■ , ,■ Public Buildings, Domains, and Roads: Buildings, 469,600 (478,877); domains, ,£2,750 (42575)'; roads, 445,000 '(444,014)." Notivo Department: .423,727 (423,986). Justice Depnrtmeht:-44«,853 (4119,71!)). The increase is in the vote foi the Police, 4245,902, as against au expenditure pi 4213,227 last year.'. New votes arc:—Compassionate allowance to widow of the late Constable F. J. Healey, 4192: compensation, to" widow and children" oi the late . Constable D; Malioney, accidentally killed while in the - execution of hi; duty, .-4520. v . ■.''•-. Mines Department: 434,343 (429,877). Ar item in the vote is Purchase of Oversea: Coal, and expenses incidental thereto 41000. ■ .: ; . Internal Affairs: 44G3;50G (440G;982) The vote for the Electoral i: 4G4.888 (by reason of ■ its being electioi •rear), Snd'the expenditure last year undei this head was; 45649. Items: Con tribiitions towards, • payment of. mini mum and. additional . 'retiring' ' allow ance to messengers,'4Bs2 (4155); forward in'g of stores to , -Mucfluario Islands fpi Mawson Antarctic Expedition, 4800; re nbvatiiig Captain .Hobson's grave,. 450 Early History of New Zealand (Hocker) 4135; grant to New Zealand Academy o Fine Arts, Wellington, 4600; Victorn league; Auckland; grant towards proposei soldiers'- .memorial, 41000; expenses o: general election, '424,000; licensing poll 412,000; preparation and printing of rolls 420,000; purchase of "specimens and liic tui-es, 41300; Australasian Medical.. Con gres3,'4HoO; smallpox epidemic, 4GOOO expenses in connection' with the visit o His Excellency the Governor to tho Coo! Islands,-"41000;- grant towards expense town-plamiiiig lectures, 4350; grant fo expenses visit' to Dominion, British Asso ciation, 42000. Defence Department: 4512,001 (4488,570, Items: Four district register camps fo Territorial officers and Senior. Cadets 41GO0; transport of troops, 422,00 (jC14,476); uniforms to Territorial Forc( 419,300 (45250); passages and expense Cadets attending Royal Australian ■■Mil: tary- College, 44000 (v£7l). ■ : Lands and Survey: 4245,376 (4253,792 • Items: Contribution towards pnrchas Day's Bay bush, 41000; purchase of frui trees for Crown settlers, ,£500; expenst of Gum Lands Commission, 41000; thrt months', salary to John Stranchon in lie of leave of absence or retirement, .4201 Makirikiri ■■ Scenic Reserve, .4385; assis mice to farmers for tree-planting, 41001 Wcstland'Land, Mining, nnd ) Timber Con mission expenses, 4GOO. • Agriculture, Industries, and Commerci • 4«1G,072-(4192,838). A Items: San Francisi Exhibition,. 415,000; .subsidr San Francisco service, 412,500 (410,833 co-operative vegetable testing plots, 410 Education: 41,227,522 (41,131,706 ' Items: School buildings, 488000 (486,474 ' house .allowance for 7 teachers, 419,01 ' (417 593); ■ allowance to Messrs: Polar 1 and J. C. Thomson, .M.P.'s, for, seme ' ns members Education Commission (b«i ; al S^ e f ore s ( tl! 0 4i>1,542 (428 442) Item : Extension of nurseries and addition ' plantation, 41000 (442); grant to R. I ; Robinson, attending Forestry, Conferenc '• Scotland, 4200.. . I WEATHER REPORTS. I ' ■ __ —4- -— ' • . AT « P.M. YESTERDAY. - (■,» jlaria van Dieinen.— "W., fresh ;bai ■ meter 30 03; ther mometer.. 57. Ovcrca fihowerv sea. considerable. 5 Russell-W.. fresh; b'teometer. 30.01; tin ■ mometer, 57. Cloudy; eeo. moderate. • Jtanukau Heads.—TV"., breeze;. barometi ) 29.97; thermometer, 49. Showery;, o Auckland.—W., fresh; barometer, 30.1 ► thermometer, 55.- Threataiing. , ■ light; baromeb 29 94 • thermometer, 55. Fair; eea amootl Eaet Cape.—W., fresh; barometer, 29.1 i thermometer. £6. Cloudy; eia rdugh. - Gisborne.—W., breeze; barometer; 29.1 . thermometer, .54. Pine; Bea smooth. • ' Port '-Ahurlii.—W., , light; barometer, 29.1 I thermometer, 51. Fair; sea, smooth. Castlepoint.-rN.W.. breeze; ' boromcb 3 29.75: thermometer, 51. Cloudy; sea.deorei Wellington.—N.W.. fresh; barometer 29.' - thermometer, ■.41. .Cloudy. / ' ■: a JT9W Plymouth.—N-.W., fresh:. baromet< 29 80- thermometer, 53. Cloudy; eeasmqoi Cape Egmont.—N.W., fresh: baromofc ) 29.87; thermometer,, 54. Cloudy; » an l Wanganui.—W., liijht; barometer. 29.1 l thermometer, 53. Shoivery: eca smooth I Farewell Spit.—S., fresh; barometer, 29.' I- thermometer, 57. Gloomy: sea increasini Cape Foulwind.-Not received. • Westport.—Not. received. Stephen Island.—N.TV., fresh; -barometi ■ 29.70: thermometer, 49. Showery; sea me 3 C.ipe Campbell:—W.i cale; barometi h 29fil- thermometer, 53. Cloudy; «ca hcav I Koikoura.—Calm; barometer,' 29.49; thi 1 moraeter. 50. TaiT- csa. smooth. . ' Akcrcv'v frssh; baron 1 t«r. 29.37; thermometer, 53. Gloomy; s i emootli.' ) Port Chalmers.—Ji.l3., breeze: barometi 1 29.32: thermometer, 50. . Overcast; sea, me , erate. , ■ J Nuzecte.—N., frwh; barometer, 29.; thoni")!!!*-'^" , . W. Cloudy: sea moderate. 3 Bluff.—S;W., fresh; barometer, 29.31; tin l mometer, 47. • Cloudy; sea moderate. ■ D. 0. BATES j Meteorological Office, Wellington, . , August 6, -IM4. . .■'•... 1 ' RHEUMATISM CURED. DR. RHFJ.DON'S MAGNETrO-M-13NT SAVED ME FROM LIFELOI* 1 TORTURE AND AGONY. , 1 "For a long time 1 have been a painf 3 -sufferer.from Rheumatism in a form th ' has baffled the skill of many professiov ? men and Specialists who could give me : relief whatever," writes Airs. Mary ,Ta Gray Mac Donald, 13!) Dundas Street, Du 5 cd'in N.7i. ''My case was not an ordina 0 one' All over my body, came out : hard lumßS like lioils, causing me untc ) a"ony -The best advice procurable v - obtained, and we went to a great ( 5 pense with Patent Medicine, but I cov o'. get no relief until I was told' about I - Sheldon's Magnetic Liniment. N6 one iv more surprised thnn myself at the nui S results. The'painful lumps that nothi could case, were speedily softened a disappeared, which my. friends consider lviracle but I know that it was. I 1 Sheldon's' Magnetic Liniment alone tl has saved ho from a life of long torlv r and agony, and it will always bo kept \ the family medicine shelf." ■ Dr Sheldon's Magnetic Liniment w 1 'relieve at onrc. Rheuniatism, Lumbal I Lame Back, Cuts, Bruises, and Bun II 4. bottle of Magnotic Liniment shoi lie kept in every, homo ready. for env gencies. Prices Iβ. 6d. and 3Si-Adxt