DEFENCE MANTERS
YEAR'S EXPENDITURE, £1,548,000. TOTAL'OP RELIEF FUNDS. "The work of the military autho'ritie» and of the Defence Department has steadily increased. Additional units havo been added to tho original Expeditionary Forco, and continual and ample reinforcements have been regularly despatched without a hitch or serious accident. This is tho more creditable owing to the fact thnt the military authorities have, in tho absence of a naval administialion, assumed .the function of fitting, equipping, and. maintaining a regular troop transport system for the conveyance of troops' to . the seat of war, It is satisfactory to'' know that the new units and. reinforcements have met with general approval by the Ai-my Counoil and the Imperial Training Staff at tha base in Egypt aa regards tTieir physique and training.
"As a natural result of active service abroad, sick and wounded invalided soldiers have been regularly.. returning to tlio Dominion. The arrangements for thoir reception and comfort have been carefully and well carried out by tho Defence and Public Health, Departments working in conjunction. . . "Concurrently with the training' and forwarding of regular reinforcements, tlio Territorial or home-defence training sys■tem has been carried out. 'Without this regular system it is' certain that the Expeditionary Force dispatched to occupy Samoa, and tho main force and reinforcements, could not havo been so efficiently and expeditiously dispatched and maintained.
'"It is to the lasting credit of the employers within the Dominion that, despite the inconvenience to which they have been put by tho enlistment of many of their employees for service abroad, they have continued to support the annual training of the Territorial Forces, aud have in this manner, contributed to the successful enrolment of tho Expeditionary Forces and Reinforcements. 'During the past year a Minister of Supplies and Munitions has been appointed, and under his control tlio co-ordina-tion . of manufactures and supplies throughout the. Dominion has been biought about, thus' ensuring improvements and sufficiency of equipment lo meet the military demands. "Tho expenditure out of revenue on account of defence amounted to .£432,227, or £60,616 less than the estimated requirements. STORES AND SUPPLIES FOR THE FORCES. "Owing to tho fact, that the wool sales aro held in November-December yearly, it is found, convenient to estimate prices and to review expenditure over tho period of a calendar year, rather than over tho period of a financial year terminating on March 31. The expenditure lor. the calendar year 1915-was as follows:— Stores 620,45(1 Supplies 421,593 - Drugs ; 20,631 Total ; .£1,062,674 "In view of the heavy conmiitmont to the Army Council in connection with equipping, training, and dispatching, say, thirty thousand men during 1916, it is estimated that ,C1,"]45,000 will be required for the calendar year 1916. This suui is mado up as follows:— .. - e „. Stores l.iffi.rCu Supplies 424,500 Drugs 23.500 Total <81,543,000 "It has been found advisable, iu order to crcatn reserves in certain lines of equipment, to place; orders for heavy deliveries during the first six months of 1916. These goods will bo held iu storo under proper custody, and as a result tho orders for goods wiil not he so extonsivo towards..tho closo of.the year as for tho first six months. As far as can bo ascertained, tho sum of .£248,000 has been paid for 1916 supplies, which leaves
a balance of .JC1,300,000. to be provided for the remainder of tho calendar year. SAMOAN ADMINISTRATION. "Tlio garrison for Samoa is still being provided and equipped by New Zealand, and tho payment of troops is . a charge upon, tho war expenses account. t T'Ue health of the troops is good, and no difficulties- arc being experienced with regard to tho administration. Shortly: after tho occupation of tho Island by our troops it was deemed necessary to replace the German currency with British currency, aud the early establishment of a branch of the Bank of New.Zealand there greatly lacihtatcd tho settlement of the currency and exchungo questions. Tlio German currency was purchased by the issue of notes on tho basis of 20.60 marks to the sovereign. Tho German gold coin aud notes have been sold, and the proceeds invested in New Zealand Government securities. Tho silver and nickel coin ihas been forwarded to for sale when a suitable opportunity occurs, but, owing to the great depreciation of German currency ill tlio market to-day it has been found impossible to obtain a fair offer for the coin at present. WAR RELIEF FUNDS. "Extremely valuable gifts ill money and in kinu for various relief purposes in connection with tho war have been contributed during tho past financial year. The monetary gifts received by tho Government, almost entirely for purposes Zealand, amounted to <£340,635. Tho responso for Belgian relief purposes was remarkablo, not only because it far exceeded the amount asked for, but also from tho fact that tho contributions woro received during a period when tho public was contributing to funds for the relief of our own sick and wounded soldiers and their dependants. Heturns sent in by the various patriotic societies show that up to December 31, 1915, tho stun of .£1,588,280 had been raised by them, of which over was then iu hand; but tho.funds of a number of societies have been considerably augmented since then, and it is estimated that the total funds now in tho hands of patriotic organisations amount approximately lo ,£1,250,000. Gifts of tho valuo of .£77,000 have been contributed for tlio poor of Belgium, and ,£3OOO for the poor of the United Kingdom, and .£8095' for l!_cd Cross purposes in England, and ,£51,775 for hospital requisites and comforts for troops in Egypt, etc. The gifts for Red Cross put-poses,' hospital requisites, aud comforts for our troops in Egypt and other places represent not only the value of nsarly. .£60,000, but also many thousands' of hours of devoted labour, first in tho. collection of. money, .then in tho purchase of material, aud finally in the of tho material into various useful articles. Every credit is duo to the various organisations, and especially to tho women of tho country for' tho magnificent work they havo performed.
MINING. "The Imperial authorities requested that all supplies of scheelite and molybdenum be requisitioned for war -purposes at a' fixed ..-price; and the Government is noiv purchasing all .supplies available. The new arrangement has worked satisfactorily. "The output of coal for the year was 2,208,624 tons, as against 2,2T5,555"T0ns ft>r the preceding year, a decrease of 06,969 tons. This decrease in tho output is not surprising in view of the difficulties caused -by the shortage of competent miners and also of steamers to carry the coal. INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS. "No great difficulty has been experienced in dealing with the question of unemployment; on the contrary, the enlistment of large numbers of men has caused a considerable demand for other workers to take their places. _ "There has been one strike of not« during the year, viz., that at the woollen mill, Petone, arising out-of a claim by the employees for 10 per cent, increase oT wages. This dispute lias since been' settled, work has ben resumed, and it is p!eas'ing to note that no inconvenience regarding the supply of clothing for the Expeditionary Forces has been caused. With-a, few minor exceptions, the industrial . conditions elsewhere ■ are reported to have been satisfactory throughout the , "Notwithstandihg'r.th'e-.'aumbVr-i)f', dhlistmenfs' and an increase in the cost of building materials, there has been a continued demand for workers' dwellings, the number of which has increased from 471 on March 31, 1915, to £53 on March 31 last, and there were 111 addition on the "lattpr date thirty-seven dwellings in course of erection. Care lias been exercised by the Government to proceed with ffio erection of dwellings only in those where the 'work could be carried out at a reasonable cost. It might Jjo explained that all expenditure for workers' dwellings is recoverable in the rent? and instalments collected from the occupant!. IMMIGRATION. v "Since the outbreak of 'the war the Government lias nut been accepting the nomination, either in New Zealand or in the United Kingdom, of immigrants who aro eligible for military service, as it was deemed inadvisable to adopt any course of action that might' interi'ero with the requirements of the Imperial military authorities. Domestic servants aro still being assisted to the Dominion- under the scheme inaugurated in 11)13, and persons residing in New Zealand also have the privilege of nominating relatives (other than men eligible 'for-"military service) for assisted passages from the United Kingdom. PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE. , "The moneys of estates in the Public Trust- O.Bice are placed mainly in the common fund, where they realise interest at a rate, fixed by Order-in-Council, not exceeding the statutory limit of 4J per cent. The rates of interest allowed' to beneficiaries of estates should be raised. 'For several reasons it is not practicable to raise the amount fixed by statute, but I propose to have legislation introduced enabling a certain proportion of the surplus profits of the offico to be taken and given to beneficiaries in the form of an annual bonus. The offico is making large profits. It should not be a profit-makiug concern, only. Kstates under„the administration ol' tho oHico should he entitled to receive a larger portion of the profits earned. The proposed concession, besides benefiting all classes of beneficiaries, will especially materially help those benefi-, ciaries who aro affected by increased cost of living due to war conditions. "I arranged for tho Public Trustee to prepare, free of charge, and undertake the custody of' the wills of soiuiers, and an office was opened at Trentham for that purpose, with qualified officials in attendance. Many thousands of' soldiers have availed themselves of tho privilege, and it is desirable that all soldiers should do so, as tho system of making wills in tho pay-book has proved "unsatisfactory. Previously the wills in many cases wcro lost or destroyed, and many wills wero not clearly drawn. Theso disadvantages have been completely removed under the now system. A special lion-profit scale of charges for administering the estates of deceased soldiers lias also been established. In ostatcs under .£4OO the Public Trustee does not, as is the case with aprivate trustee, require (o .take out probata or letters of administration, entailing the cost of Court fees and solicitors' charges. Tho Public Trustee, iu lieu of such procedure, simply files an election to administer at a total cost of 3s. This is of great advantage to soldiers' estates, which arc usually of modest amount. The office charges nothing for handling military pay, and charges only 1 per cent, on the other assets'. There is no charge for legal services. This arrangement has been tho means of administering some hundreds of soldiers' estates at purely nominal cost. The Public Trust Offico lias also made arrangements to act as attorney or agent for soldiers, ' with power to pay allowances, insurance premiums, etc. nominal fee of 10s. (id., or d£l Is. a year, according to tlio work to bo done, is charged, and interest is allowed,on any moneys held by the Public Trustee under tho agency. "Many hundreds of soldiers have availed themselves of this arrangement, and I desire in the interests of the soldiers that the existence of tho'privilege should bo widely kiiown. GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE. '"The outbreak of tho war ahd tho heavy casualties suffered by the New Zealand Forces havo naturally caused a large, increase in the claims under policies in the Government Insurance .l)6pnrtmont, and war claims, to date have been received in respect to 295 policies, 'representing ,£(13,433 assured. Tho Department's. policies issued prior'to the war wero and aro free from any restrictions,
so practically nothing in oxtra premiums lias beon received in respect to these policies. For new insurances in the case of those joining the Forces engaged in the w:u' an extra premium, at the rate of £7 10s. per cent, per annum on the sum assured is now being charged, but, unfortunately, up to tlie present time tho mortality has been about 121 per cent., and tho oxtra premium should therefore bo at least *£12 for each .£IOO of insurance. Until tho Department has had some further experience, it is not proposed, however, to increase the extra rate. At I ho timo of tho earlier, casualties some uncertainty arose us to the proper attitudo for the Department to take up_ in connection with tho settlement of claims under policies on the lives of soldiers dying at tho seat of tho war. 'Tho difficulties more particularly arose in Tespect of tho smaller claims. It may bo mentioned that the Department is empowered by law to settle claims under policies assuring J2OO and under without requiring administration to be taken out. In tho caso of policies over that amount probate or letters of administration are necessary. ,When settlement is effected without administration, evidenco has, of course, to be produced to show that tho deceased policyholder ' has left no will, or that if a will is forthcoming it is tho last will. In view of the' special facilities in the matter of the execution of wills after leaving New Zealand afforded to soldiers, it was finally decided; to ask for administration in the caso-of all war claims irrespective of tho amount assured; and, as it has been felt that tho expenses attendant upon this course might perhaps press unduly upou small estates, the Department now pays the Court .fees in respect of deathclaims where the sum assured is .£2OO and under, and where administration would jiot be otherwise necessary. It should bo added that thero aro two classes of .war claims—(a) where the military authorities certify that tho soldier 'liarf been actually kiuett, and (b) where tlie.v certify that tho soldier is believed to bo killed. In both cases fao Department raises no difficulty ns regards admission of tho claim and payment of the sum assured if administration is granted by the Court. STATE FIRE INSURANCE. "Tho year 1915 has proved the most prosperous in the history of tho State i'ire Insurance Office. The income amounted to .£76,299, as compared with .'£67,693 for -1914. Tho net profits, after placing an additional .£IOOO to investment lluctuation reserve, and an additional '.E2GOB to 'unearned premium- reserve, amounted to ,C25,(j32, as against JCIB„CGO for 1914. The total of accumulated funds at tho close of 1915 amounted to $116,684, as compared with .£87,423 at the closc of 1914. The loss ratio was 3S.fi-per cent, for 1915. and 43.5 per cent, for 1914. Tho ratio of working expenses was 27.5 per cent,, the same ratio as recorded for 1914. PUBLIC SERVICE SUPERANNUATION FUND. "Under the authority of an amending - Act passed lust session the. board itself has undertaken, the investment of the moneys belonging to the fund, in place of the Public Trustee, who hitherto has controlled the investment .on behalf of tho board. It is anticipated that the interest derived from the investment of the fund will thus bo increased, and that tho effect will bo to relieve the Consolidated 'Fund' of jiart of its liabilEDUCATION, "Every endeavour is being made to keep down expenditure, aud in this respect the education boards are assisting I the Department. Any increases which may appear in the Estimates for tli.e current year will be due to statutory provisions. The largest increase is that of ,£38,000 in the item for public school teachers' salaries, due partly to the natural iucres£P. of attendance and partly to the amendment provisions of the Education Act, 1914, relating to staffing of schools and salaries of teachers. Of this sum about ,-£25,000 is absorbed by tho annual increments in the teachers' salaries, and the remainder is duo to increase in staff. of new school buildings and iSuitions to existing schools is .being limited to those cases in • which there 'is no-alternative course^ipen.by"' iffficii 'provision may -be made for 'substantial increases in attendance. Strict economy is being exercised in the administration of the industrial, the special, and the Native schools directly. muter the control of tho Department. The number of toachers who have joined the Expeditionary Force is I 3CO. " /• ' . PENSIONS. "A steady increase continues to bo recorded in the expenditure under the Pensions Act, the gross payments for the past year being as follow: — ■ £ Old age pensions 479,339 Widows' pensions 36,357 Military (Maori War only) pensions '. 48,273 503,969 "These figures show an increase of .£23,920. over the gross expenditure during tho previous year. As the Depart uient has now received practically all tho fresh applications following on tho provision of the 1913 Act, under which the pension age for women was to sixty, the figures may be deemed to represent a normal, state of affairs. Tho increases for the various classes of pension aro as follow:—Old age, d£15,525; widows', ;£4735; and military, ,£657. The number of pensioners on the roll at tho close of the year was 23,017, as follow old age, 19,804; widows', 1890; and military, 1323. The' old age and widows' figures represent increases of 452, and 102 respectively, but tho military pensions payable to veterans of tho Maori War are a diminishing quantity, ns the total deaths during, the .year amounted to 124, while the new- pensions totalled 60. During the year a miner's pension was provided for .by the Miner's Phthisis Act, under which up to March 31, 145 claims had been lodged. -1n.120 of these claims, including 16 by widows of miners, pensions were granted representing--an annual - charge .of .£5*145. The" amount actually 'paid to tho close' of the year was -£1505. . WAR PENSIONS. ' "The .War Pensions Act. has beon amended duriug. tllb'present session of Parliament,...and has ; recently been' so fully discussed in all its aspects that 1 need -do ho'more here than state that it is certain to come up for further con-, sideration. later on,; and'that tile country can be relied upon to do-its duty in regard to those-who have, fought, and will yet fight, for tho preservation and freedom of oiir : Empirb. The amount expected to come, Mo.'charge during this year will probably approximate 000, but whatever amount is required will be provided for. IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES "Tho arrangement entered into with the Imperial Government by which all ( beef, mutton, and lainb available lor ex- | port should bo purchased on account of l.lic Imperial Government, and which became operativo oil March 3, 1915, lias been continued throughout the year. The total shipments up to May 9, 191G, iiavo been: 719,089 quarters beef, 3,045,732 carcasses mutton, 4,376,426 carcasses lamb. The payments to freezing companies and producers have amounted to .a,143,79-1, The question' of tho supply of insulated tonnage has been a matter, of considerable concern to tho Government. Representations have been mado to tlio Imperial Government, with tho object of. securing additional insulated tonnage, lu response to these representations,. fivo steamers 4iave been mado uvulable from Australia. The number of insulated steamers dispatched during tho twelvo months ending March 31 last was eighty-one, compared with eighty for tho previous year. Three steamers on. gaged as meat-carriers liavo been put out .of commission—the Clan M'Tavish was sunk by tho enemy, and the Matatua and Eangntira were lost as the result of marine casualties. A clearance nl' tho freezing stores was practically effected when tho new season commenced. At tho beginning of May there remained in store approximately two million 001b. carcasses at the freezing works, but tho ouUook for the balance of tho season is favourable. It is satisfactory to note (hat mauy of the freezing companies; have taken, in-hand-the matter of-'in-, creasing tho storage accommodation.
"In November last a requisition lor 15,C00 tons first grade cheeso was mado by the Imperial Government, the price fixed being 7Jd. per lb., f.o.b. In order to comply with this requisition, all factories were notified that approximately one-third of their output for the.
aoaaon would be required for Imperial Army .purposes. A working scheme was drawn up between the factories and the Government, and up to May 9, 1916, 12,725 tons had been shipped, and the payments to dairy factories and producers totalled J284a,474.
"Considerable congestion, is being experienced in the export of general cargo, owing to the shrinkage in the world's tonnage. This condition is due, firstly, to the heavy and ever-increasing demands of our own and Allied Governments for tonnage for war purposes; secondly, to tho sinking of a number of cargo steamers by the enemy, and the' loss of two largo carriers, and also to the fact that tho output of general cargo is above the normal. There "are indications that the tonnage available in the months of.June and July will'clear the accumulation, and the situation 6hould wholly right itself by tho end of August. The congestion may reasonably be said to liavo reached its worst in March' and April, and, given the safe arrival of steamers now on the way to load, it should decline by August, .and;become normal by September.
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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2799, 17 June 1916, Page 13
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3,477DEFENCE MANTERS Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2799, 17 June 1916, Page 13
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