WAR BONUSES
PROVISION FOR CIVIL SERVANTS ESTIMATED LOAN EXPENDITURE FOR 1916-17. "Since tlio- beginning- of tha war a very largo amount of additional workhas been cast upon the officers of all State Departments, and the Government desires to offer some, recognition.-ofthe oxtra servioes which, have- been so- read-; ily given. -It is also recognised that tha cost of living has greatly increased during the past two years, and, in consequence, many of the lower-paid officers of the State find- it increasingly difficult to maintain their families in ordinary comfort. With a viow of offering some recompense to these officers it is proposed to grant a war bonus, fixed in accordance with a specified 6cale, to those officers of the railways • and all other branches of tho Public Service, include ing school teachers, whoso salaries ; do not exceed. .£315 per annum. I estimate that a sum of will be required to cover this .charge, and this amount will bo placed on the Estimates accordingly. . As soon as. the Appropriation Bill" becomes law the full bonus will -bo paid in one sum to those entitled to it. ESTIMATED LOAN EXPENDITURE . FOR 1916-17. "I estimate that it will bo necessary to provide from sources within the Dominion a'sum not exceeding .£2,500,000 during the' current year to provide, for tho carrying on. of works and other services which are deemed to bo necessary.' This amount , has been cut down to tho lowest figure possible, and; care will have to be exercised in the expenditure, as difficulties are likely to occur if further sums aro ; required.. Of the abovementioned sum, ,£500,000 represents money for tho purchase <jf land for soldiers, and as this may be paid for tj means of debentures I estimate that the net amount which it will bo accessary to obtain for works will amount to, approximately, i£2,000,000. How far this will bo given effect to. must necessarily depend upon the sums which are from timo to time available for investment on account of various Departments. A MATERNITY BONUS. With the view of further promoting social insurance and the well-being of the State, I will ask the House to:-set aside a sum of .£22,500 to provide for" the establishment of a scheme that will enable the .Government, .through, the National Provident Fund, to enlist the cooperation of the friendly societies. :This. sum will provide members with a ma:ternity .allowance of .£4 at each birth. The vote . also will inolude a subsidy which will enable members of friendly societies to obtain an annuity at; tlie'age of sixty-at-half the.-rates now. charged to ithe National Provident Fund contributors. .In this connection I wish to point out that by subsidising.friendly societies in this manner t)ie policy established under . the National Provident Fund will be further promoted, and-the principles underlying that fund, •by which assistance in their faniily responsibilities is granted to contributors, will be maintained. This feature of the proposals, also advances the States policy ill regard to social reform, and will 'be of special value in contributing towards the preservation of infant life, at birth-a matter of vital importance to the nation at the present time, having regard to the present tremendous war wastage. •
COST-OF-LIVING PROBLEM. "During the year this .matter has received a great (leal of attention from the Government, with a view to prevent* ing high prices being charged to the people for their food supplies. Every aspect of tho matter was considered prior to the appointment of the Board of. Trade, but difficulties of solution, dus to the war, presented themselves in almost every direction. The needs of the great war have caused - the Imperial Government to requisition a great-proportion of the steamers and ships of the ; mercantile marine, and other countries hava also made unusual demands on tho ships sailing under their own flags. The tonnage remaining for general trade purposes.of the British Empire has proved quite inadequate for carrying on the transport and commercial requirements,; of the Empire, and the oversea Dominions have suffered in consequence. The, regrettable but inevitable result was-that, freights rose to an unparalleled _ height, ' at which they still remain. This, with flie phenomenal increase,in the prices of goods' in outside - countries, .including Great 'Britain, added enpnnouslyrt.o the cost of good's imported into this country. Iu this respect, as' far .as Xevr 'Zealand is concerned, tho Government was powerless to immediately effect ft . remedy. Firstly, ships could not be built, chartered, or purchased. . Secondly,* if they could'htive been built, chartered, or purchased, the necessities of'the war-would , have taken precedence of everything else; in fact, the ships would havo been rightly commandeered for Imperial purposes.; Thirdly, the first, cost of goods of nearly' every the countries of origin could! hot : be}controlled from here. The Government consequently direoted its attention to preventing exploitation, and the Board of Trade, wlien it was set up, was'' specially instructed to leave nothing undone to help in this direction, and it has been engaged since its constitution ia making close inquiries in different portions of the country-. ■ Tho reports will bo made available for Parliament. It seems almost: impossible during wartime, owing to the world-wide increases in freights, added to the general increase of tho first cost of goods in the countries of origin, to hope for a general lowering of prices until the war is over. Similar difficulties "present themselves regarding our own produce, which is, fortunately, in general demand. As prices are fixed by the law of supply and 'demand in all parts of tho world, it seems apparent that only tho lowering of values in tho outside world can effectively bring about a reduction of prices in New Zealand. If relief by the remission of Customs duties wou'id have helped, this would have been proposed. It will be seen, however, that practically all articles of food and materials lnrgoly in uso are already free of duty. INCREASED RENTALS. "Sinco tho commencement of tho war many complaints have been received regarding 'the advance in house rente. There can bo 110 doubt that increase-of house-rents adds greatly to the cost of living, especially to those of limited salaries or wages. Honourable members will be asked to pass legislation to restore rents to their pre-war rates, and to prevent their being increased during tho war period.
ARTICLES FREE OF DUTY. "I have had a return prepared showing articles of food at present free of duty. They aro as follow:—Arrowroot; farinaceous foods (iv.o.c.); dried. fruits—currants, dates, figs, primes; raisins; fresh, fruits—bananas, oranges, other kinds; maizena and cornflour; rice, dressed; rics undressed; infants' and invalids' farinaceous foods; macaroni and vermicelli; mustard; nuts, edible, other than almonds aud walnuts; sago and tapioca, cxcept flour; salt, refined and table; sugar, mo.
lasses, and treacle; tea in packages containing 511. or over. "Tho value of the articles imported undo'r tliese'h.eadings during 1915 arnount*?Mo • iSSiOIO.'JIO,. and if tho duty at the ■ ordinary.-, average rate had existed for thafcycar, including sugar at a duty of ■id,"per pound, and tea at 2d. per pound, tlio". duty- Would have amounted to ■£57G,G73....... . "-'Daring the : same year the following articles of -clothing and wearing apparel were admitted free of duty:—Children's lioits, sizes U to G; gum boots; buttons, tapes, ..waddings, pins,, and needles; cotton' pie.cg-goods; linen piece-goods; union, cotton and linen piece-goods; waterproof pjfitli;'.sewing silks .and. threads. The value ~-of these .amounted to . li' duty had existed at the ordinary rates ■it would have approxiniated 5240.000 for the year,- so that with ffee'" food; imports the sum .of .£816,679 jj'er annum is represented by these two classes of . imports. >1-mention'this matter "in bbusequonco. of the somewhat unffur;strictlir.es levelled at the New Zea- , lan'd; in reference to. tho in-crease-in, the cost of food prices. It ia r . ofe'ar'tha : t.ln"regard io-the articles I- have rcferred to. nothing further. can be done present fco reduce their -imported cost, as they are all free of duty. It certainly camiot be denied that the prices of these commodities materially affect the mnsses of the people, and it- is our clear duly to do all in our power to bring-about a reduction in the- cost of living. It was fortho purpose'of preventing exploitation tliat-thevßoard of Trade was established by jthe- Government. ! : "
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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2799, 17 June 1916, Page 13
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1,362WAR BONUSES Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2799, 17 June 1916, Page 13
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