WAR EXPENSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 January 1941, Page 3

WAR EXPENSES

COST TO NEW ZEALAND FIGURES GIVEN E>Y MINISTER. GIFTS FROM TAXPAYERS. <By Telegraph—Press Association.'• DUNEDIN. January 28. Tt/ war expenses account for the | last nine months was commented upon I by the Minister of Finance Mr Nash, in an address tonight. Ho said that so ' far .£ 15.330.000 had been spent, while ! revenue .amounted to about £18.090,000, Of the latter figure. £9 000.000 i had been found by loan and £8.000.000 ’ by taxation including £3 580,000 from i the national security tax. The Government had been fortunate; in the gifts it had received from people ! who made contributions after paying j their taxes. A total of £70554 had; been given as gifts. ICBO Post Otfce . ' Savings Bank depositors had given the i nti rest on their savings for the dura- ! ften and 147 people drawing universal ( I superannuation had contributed the j money due to them. A total of £2.600,i 000. had 'been . lent to the Government '■ interest free, and of this £1.400.000 had * been converted into long-term loans, j "Grem Britain told us she would ' find all the money to equip our men j overseas.'' the Minister continued, “but; we will find as much of the money as ! possible The equipping of our forces! cost £ 19.750.0fi0 in the first year and . every month we spend £3l 8s on every i man outside the Dominion. "The real cost. of. the war is nqtd money but goods, services and men. j There are 56 000 rnen out of production i and those who are left behind have go; to work harder if the economy of the ‘ country ns it; is today is to be carried ■ tn. When goods are short people will have to go short of goods or make ■ more. There will be no shortage of i food or clothing in this country bo- : cause wo can produce and make those* things, but wo will have to see that the shortage of goods we cannot pro- j duce is spread equitably over the i whole com mu n tty.”