APPROPRIATION BILL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 32, 1 November 1917, Page 4

APPROPRIATION BILL

PAXMENT FOR TWELVE MINISTERS. The Appropriation Bill contains some clauses of dealing with more than simple finance. . , Ono payment authorised is that ot JMfIOO by way of loan out of tho Consolidated Fund for the purpose of encouraging the production and refinement of mineral oil. Payment is authorised of advances not exceeding J8120.000 ■to provide for additional cold storage. K: appears that bv way of War Loan Certificates more than sixteen millions was raised last year, anil it is proposed tliat the. raising of any amount above the authorised amount shall bo validated. Sports grounds are to bo exempt from the payment of land tax and income tax, in whole or in part, at tho discretion of the Commissioner of Taxes. Provision is made for the payment ot twelve Ministers instead of ten. At present there are only eleven Minister*, but there is a vacancy in the Cabinet wtncii will presumably 1* filled. Tho Civil List Act in 1915 provided for the pavmetit of eight Ministers nnlv. exclusive of the representative of the Native race, but in that year it was amended to provide for tho nayment of ten Ministers. The National' Government was bigger than was anticipated, and for two years there have been two linnorary Ministers. Now these honorary Ministers am to be paid. Upgrading of the miblic servants is not to bo proceeded with until aftfir seven yp.iTS after the first prradin<r. and no swcial reernding of any position to which a salary of more than £2&\ is attached until tho cost is voted by Parliament.