COST OF DEFENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1922, Page 9

COST OF DEFENCE

REDUCTION TO SAFETY LIMIT, Wellington, August 15. Defence and “war expenses” occupy an important place in the Financial Statement. Referring to defence, it says that while it is imperative that our defence expenditure should be kept as low as possible, there is a limit beyond which reduction (jannot be made with safety. The expenditure out of the Consolidated Fund for defence, including ordnance services and the maintenance and training of the territorial force, during the financial year ended 31st March. 1922, amounted to £415,451, or £3.333 less than the expenditure for the current year is £317,616, showing a saving* of £97,834, including an economy of £50,006 per annum effected ‘by the execution of a new contract for the supply of smallarms ammunition. Other savings have been made. The net expenditure from vote “war expenses” for the past year was £914.227. This included .£326,000 for the medical treatment of returned soldiers for war disabilities. £170,000 for transport claims. £'46,000 war gratuities, and £406,112 for post-war equipment to replace equipment taken from New Zealand with the Expeditionary Force —that is, after allowing for a net credit of £48.756 on account of item “repatriation.” The estimated net expenditure for the current year is £799,252 in which provision is made to meet liability to the Imperial Ministry of Shipping for transport charges £475,000.