8.—6.

BUDGETARY POSITION. Deducting this net saving of £2,355,000 from the amount of last year's expenditure —viz., £24,860,000 —brings the net total of the estimates to be presented to the House down to approximately £22,505,000. The precise amount of the estimates is £22,507,442. Pursuant to legislation passed last session, a large part of the expenditure hitherto provided for under permanent appropriations has now been included in the annual votes. Honourable members will, I think, be interested to note that the expenditure provided for may be broadly classified as follows : — £ Debt services .. .. .. 10,012,000 Transfer of motor taxation .. 1,110,000 Exchange .. .. .. 350,000 Other permanent charges .. .. 473,000 £ Total permanent appropriations .. 11,945,000 Social services .. .. .. 6,870,000 Defence .. .. .. .. 631,000 Law and order . . . . .. 688,000 Development of primary and secondary industries .. .. .. 897,000 Administrative and general .. 1,476,000 Total annual votes . . .. . . 10,562,000 Total estimated expenditure .. .. £22,507,000 Full details will be found in the printed estimates. In order to set out the position more clearly, I have arranged for the annual votes to be grouped in the summary under suitable headings. The revenue for the year, which I have already reviewed in detail, may be summarized as follows : — Taxation — £ Customs .. .. .. 5,700,000 Beer duty .. .. . . 640,000 Film-hire tax ~ .. 35,000 Motor - vehicles — Duties and licenses .. .. 1,610,000 Stamp and death duties .. 2,900,000 Land-tax .. .. .. 515,000 Income-tax .. .. .. 3,400,000 £ 14,800,000 Interest — Railways .. .. .. 740,000 Post and Telegraph .. . . 540,000 Public Debt Redemption Fund 645,000 Other public moneys .. 625,000 2,550,000 Other receipts — From reserves .. .. 2,500,000 Post and Telegraph profits .. 470,000 Other items.. .. .. 1,310,000 4,280,000 £21,630,000 This leaves the Budget in the following position :— £ Expenditure estimates .. .. . . . . 22,507,442 Revenue .. .. .. .. .. 21,630,000 Shortage .. .. .. .. £877,442

Budgetary position.

Expenditure.

Revenue.

Summary.

12