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The total of the annual appropriations this year is £74,078,000 ■compared with the net expenditure last year of £31,752,000, a net increase of £42,326,000. This is accounted for by—- £ : Transfers of items from War Expenses Account .. .. .. 19,741,000 Credits in aid now abolished .. .. .. .. .. 4,143,000 Increase in wheat subsidy .. .. .. .. .. 954,000 Increase in social security transfer .. .. .. .. 11,000,000 Special items — £ Transfer of film studios .. .. .. .. 85,000 Contribution to international organizations .. .. 176,000 Abolition of recovery by Land and Income Tax Department from Social Security Fund .. .. .. 132,000 Abolition of Recovery by Health Department from Social Security Fund .. .. .. .. 136,000 Decentralization of the Land and Income Tax Department 32,000 Drought relief .. .. .. .. .. 30,000 Transfer to Land for Settlement Account .. .. 100,000 General election expenses .. .. .. . . 120,000 Milk marketing expenses .. .. .. .. 450,000 Other items .. .. .. .. .. 191,000 1,452,000 Departmental expansion— Public Works Department .. .. .. .. 1,012,000 National Employment Service .. .. .. 404,000 Education .. .. .. .. .. 774,000 War pensions " . .. ... .. .. 654,000 Health .. .. .. .. .. .. 299,000 Rehabilitation .. .. .. .. .. 127,000 Police .. .. .. .. .. .. 198,000 Scientific and Industrial Research .. .. .. 112,000 All other Departments .. .. .. 1,456,000 5,036,000 £42,326,000 It should not be overlooked that Departments are now resuming activities which, through lack of man-power, were heavily curtailed ■during the war period. Full particulars of the proposed expenditure are set out in the printed Estimates. SOCIAL SECURITY FUND The part which social security now plays in the economic life of the community focuses increasing attention on the position of the Social Security Fund. Monetary benefits for last year totalled £16,552,000, an increase of over £3,000,000 as compared with the previous year. Medical and hospital benefits and administration -expenses amount to £6,408,000, an increase of approximately £500,000, making a total expenditure out of the Fund for the year of £22,960,000.

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