DEFENCE EXPENDITURE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1048, 12 August 1930, Page 16

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE

DECREASE OF £9,767 MORE SPENT ON AVIATION THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Monday. The net expenditure from the Consolidated Fund for defence purposes, including aviation and assistance to rifle clubs, for the year ending March, 1930, was £454,828, a decrease of £9,767 as compared with the previous year and representing 6s 1.3 d a head of population as against 6s 3.8 for the previous year, says the annual report of the Defence Department, presented to the House today. The amount expended on general training and administration was £23,069 less than in the previous year, while the expenditure on aviation was £15,730 greater. During the year it was decided to reduce considerably the reserve of gun ammunition to be held m the country, and as a result of this decision the authorised expenditure of £25,000 per annum for the reserve and £ 6,000 per annum for practice has been cancelled and an authority for £5,000 per annum substituted to provide for both reserve and practice ammunition.

The net expenditure from the Public Works Fund vote on defence for the year ended March, 1930, was £46,766. being £20,586 less than in the previous year, and it included £38,819 on construction and development work at the Hobsonville aviation base. The expenditure a head of population on combined defence (administration, training and aviation) and contingent defence (construction and works) votes was 6s B.Bd compared with 7s 2.8 d in the previous year.