P.W.D. VOTE WILL BE LARGER

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 344, 4 October 1932, Page 5

P.W.D. VOTE WILL BE LARGER

("Post" Special Commissioner) .

INCREASE PREDICTED BUDGET TO BE READ IN HOUSE THIS EYENING STATEMENT ON OTTAWA

Wellington, Monday. One of the most interesting papers to accompany the appearance of the Badget in the Houise of Representatives io-'morrow evening will he ihe Public Works estimates which will snow a considerable increase in the anticipated spending as compared with the forecast made by Mr. Coates in March last. The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes), will read the Budget in the absence -of Hon. Downie Stewart and intends to present it to-morrow "whether the Address-in-Reply debate ends or not, although the" Government anticipates its conclusion before the tea adjournment. Although Mr. Forbes said that there will be no surprises in the Budget, it will not be unimportant. The esti-. mates will appear simultaneously with the Budget while a most unusual course' is being adopted this session in bringing down the Public Works estimates at the same time. An indication has already been given that the Public Works vote will be larger than the £1,234,000 estimated by Mr. Coates earlier this year, and it is understood that the amount to be alloeated will be very considerably in excess of this sum. Last Year's Vote For the year ended March 31 last, the Public Works Department was voted £5,847,000 to cover its expenditure. Last March, the Minister in charge, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, announced that in view of the serious state of the country's finances, it would be impossible to finance the Public Works undertakings on the same scale as in the past, especially in view of the fact that loan moneys, which normally provided for this class of State activity, would not be available. Out of the London loan raised earlier this year, £1,000,000 was applied toward Public Works and it was thought that this sum, with very little extra, would suffice. Howeverj it is understood that the total vote to be alloeated to the department in the estimates to be presented to Parliament to-morrow will he in the vicinity of £2,000,000. This shows that although the expenditure for the current year will be more than originally expected, a very large reduction will neverthe- . less be effected in accordance with the statement made by Mr. Coates in March. The basis of employment in the Public Works Department has been considerably altered by being plaeed on relief work rates, although the employees are enjoying permanent work as against intermittent work on ordinary relief work jobs. Staff Reductions

It is stated that staff reductions, totalling over- 30 per cent, have also been made during the past two years and it is likely that some reference to this will be made officially in the House before the end of this session. After the reading of the Budget address to-rnorrow, the House will adj'ourn until Wednesday afternoon, when members will be given the chance to discuss the report oi the National Expenditure Commission, It is now practically certain that the customs concessions that New Zealand will give to Great Britain as a result of the Ottawa agreements, will not appear until about October 13, when similar resolutions will be tabled in other Dominion Parliaments and in the British House of Commons. However, it is expected that Mr. Coates' statement on the eonference will be made probably toward the end of this week.