FURTHER INCREASE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26616, 12 November 1947, Page 6

FURTHER INCREASE

STATE EXPENDITURE SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES PRESENTED Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Nov. 11. A total vote of £6,766,109 is pro vided for in the Supplementary Estimates, which were presented in the House of Representatives to-day. This amount is made up by a vote of £4,335,357 for the ordinary revenue account of the Consolidated Fund, one of £1,889,810 for separate accounts, and one of £540,942 for accounts outside the public account. Most classes contain a supplementary vote for the payment of increases arising out of the Arbitration Court prpnouncement, and tlie largest individual item is one of £1,150,000 in the vote for the Department of Internal Affairs for payment of additional contributions to three State superannuation funds. In the vote for the Department of External Affairs there is an item of £1262, representing New Zealand’s share of the expenses of' the South Pacific conference held at Canberra in January and February. Australia and New Zealand shared the expenses of this conference, which was held for the purpose of establishing a regional commission in the South Pacific. Railway Losses

The vote for the Economic Stabilisation Commission contains an item of £146,000 to recoup the railway working losses up to the date of the increased freights and fares. This is in addition to £500.000 provided on the main Estimates. There is also an item of £350,000 for subsidising freights up to the date of the increased sea freights becoming operative, this being in addition to £600,000 voted on the mam Estimates.

To meet the increased subsidies on butter and town milk at the recently announced increased prices paid to dairy farmers, there is an item of £150.000, which is in addition to the £2,045,000 provided on the main Estimates.

Expenses of the Aid to Britain campaign are responsible for an item of £20,000 in the vote for the Department of Internal Affairs. A compassionate grant of £1250 is made to the widow of Mr J. O’Brien, and one of £SOO to the widow of Mr A. S Richards, and there is an item of £925 to cover the cost of' the funeral of Mr O’Brien. A grant of £250,000 is made to the International Children’s Emergency Fund, and a contribution qi £12.500 towards its appeal, which is being undertaken by the New Zealand Council of Organisations for Relief Service Overseas. The Marine Department vote contains an item for an additional £10,600 for working expenses for the barque Pamir. This is required -o meet the cost of radio equipment (£300) and the annual overhaul and laying-up period (£10,300). In the vote for the Department of Labour and Employment there is an item of £40,000 for re-conversion of the hospital ship Atlantis, which was made available by the British Ministry of Transport for the ’ carriage of immigrants. Scientific Expeditions In the vote for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research there is an item of £3330 to cover the cost of the hire of the New Golden Hind for the conveyance of a party on two occasions while carrying out geological, botanical and soil exploration of the West Coast Sounds. There is also a grant of £SOO towards the cost of the expedition to the Snares Islands, south of New Zealand, to study bird, animal and marine life. There is an item of £20,340 in the vote for the Department of Industries and Commerce for the purchase of a quantity of jute cornsacks from India, and an additional £200,000 is voted for the procurement of cement and fertiliser bags, but it is recoverable. An additional £210,000 is voted in the Estimates of the Department of Health by way of subsidies to hospital boards. This sum, which is to meet the extra costs arising ‘out of the Arbitration Court’s pronouncement, is in addition to £3,250,000 in hospital subsidies voted on main Estimates.

A vote in the Public Works Account for public buildings includes £500,000 for the purchase of property in London for the High Commissioner’s Office. An additional £386,000 is voted for construction, reconstruction and improvements to the main highways. The main Estimates contained a vote of £497,000 for this purpose. The vote for the Social Security Fund contains an item of £120.000 for public hospital fees (£70,000) and private hospital fees (£50,000). The main Estimates provided for £230,000 for public hospital fees and £200,000 for private hospital fees, and an additional £ 120;000 on the supplementary Estimates is required to meet the increased fees for maternity cases. The vote for the State Coal Mines Account contains an item of £I6OO for the establishment of fire-fighting facilities to deal with any outbreak that may occur at the pit-heads of the State coal mines in the Ohai field. The Estimates contain an unauthorised expenditure account for 1946-47. In this section there is an item of £925 for refunds of sales tax paid in error.