8.-6

III

The Expenditure for the Year ended 31st March, 1916, compared with the Year ended 31st March, 1915— continued.

In reference to the expenditure, I desire especially to call attention to the reduction of £74,674 in the expenditure under the annual appropriations for the year 1915-16 when compared with that of the previous year, and in this connection I would like to say that this economy is largely, in my opinion, due to the care with which the Administrative Heads of Departments controlled their expenditure. On two occasions during the year I met the Permanent Heads of Departments in my office and emphasized the necessity for the exercise of economy in the public expenditure, especially at the present time, and I wish to publicly express my appreciation of the zealous manner in which these officers carried out the wishes expressed by me by carefully supervising the expenditure in their respective Departments. RESULT OF THE YEAR'S OPERATIONS. Consolidated Fund: Ordinary Revenue Account, — £ Balance brought forward on Ist April, 1915 .. .. .. 149,047 Receipts during year,— £ Revenue .. .. .. .. 14,498,064 Other receipts— Recoveries on account of £ previous years .. 9,466 Sinking fund set free .. 2,607 12,073 £ 14,510,137 Expenditure during year,— Appropriations .. .. .. .. 12,493,107 2,017,030 Balance on 31st March, 1916 .. ~ £2,166,077

Expenditure. Year ended 31st Maroh, 1916. Year ended 31st March, 1915. Increase. Decrease. Annual Appropriations- -continued. Native Department Justice Department Mines Department Department of Internal Affairs Defence Department Customs, Marine, and Inspection of Machinery Departments Department of Labour Department of Lands and Survey Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce Education Department Services not provided for £ 24,877 452,227 28,552 408,058 432,227 161,225 31,676 235,322 191,774 £ 24,005 442,478 29,170 489,207 499,137 149,200 28,142 239,043 206,731 £ 872 9,749 12,025 3,534 £ 6J8 81,149 66,910 3,721 14,957 1,329,166 30,866 1,207,983 108,512 121,183 77,046 7,799,952 7,874,626 270.425 345,099 Totals 460,331 347,027 317,027 12,493,107 12,379,803 113,304