THE ESTIMATES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 2 August 1929, Page 4

THE ESTIMATES

FEW NEW VOTES INCREASES MAINLY IN DEFENCE ITEMS HELP FOR AVIATION (By Telegraph) (From "Tho Mail's" Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Ist August. As may be expected in a year during which the Government is seeking to wipe off a deficit of the past financial year new votes on the Estimates are few in number while most of the recurring votes remain at' tho same or a similar figure, as last year. The expenditure on Family Allowances for the past year was £54,815, a littlo more than. £SOOO below the estimate. This year £65,000 is allocated for the purpose. Tim sum of £542,000 is mado payable to the' main highways revenue fund as against £397,000 provided last year and overspent to £441.346. A vote of £SOO is made in respect of the. expenses of the. commission set up to inquire into Teases in the WaikatoManiapoto Native Land Court district, and a Further £IOO is allocated as a new item in connection with the economic survey of the Maori race. A kindred item is £l5O as the preliminary cost of the preparation of a scheme for ' a model native village at Whakarewarewa, Rotorua. Incidental charges in connection with the Elsie Walker police inquiry amounted to £BOO. It is proposed to survey and map the Reefton coalfields as a preliminary to boring to ascertain definitely the coal seams existing there, and to this end a vote of £750 is allocated. Most of the, new votes occur in the naval defence" estimates. The necessity for replenishing stocks in the oil tanks at Auckland, for fuelling ships of the New Zealand navy accounts for a rise to £29,000 in the vote for that purpose. Last year £.21,172 was spent. Other new items arc as follows:—Motor boat for harbour service at Auckland £800; hot water supply for ships in dock £180; mine sweeping paravane and inflammable store £700; additional wash places and latrines at Devonport naval base £1150; rebuilding and enlarging gunmounting store £1840; garage £l6O. Attendances at Territorial camps last year under the restricted training scheme .show that £29,000 is the minimum requirement. Last year's voto was overexpended by about*£sooo. Defence Department transport, especially on rail freights cost £2s,47l—about £7500 more than was anticipated. Under aviation accounts appear votes of £SOO for tho purchase of aircraft for issue to aero clubs; £3OO for freight on same; and £ISOO as grant's to aero clubs in respect of pupils qualifying for .private pilots certificates on the. basis of 20 pupils each at Auckland, Blenheim and Christchurch, each at a cost of £25. A greater expenditure than was recorded last year is expected on account of tho subdivision of estates under offer to the Government for closer settlement purposes. This accounts for another slightly increased vote in the Lands and Survey estimates. Cool storage experiments in connection with the fruit industry are estimated to cost £l5O. Another Agricultural Department item of interest is a new vole of £9OOO as a grant by way of assistance to the beekeeping industry. Apparently in anticipation of increased exports of eggs, fruit and pork tho totals for guarantees or bonuses are increased slightly. ,