CO129-597-1 Estimates 1948 15-11-1946 - 12-6-1948 — Page 75

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of Military Officers who were retained on loan to the

Civil Government after the handover. There has thus been

a reduction in personal emoluments of $1,705,500 and there

will be a further reduction as the staffs of temporary

departments are cut down still further. The progress in

the gradual closing down of these temporary departments

has so far been satisfactory. The expenditure estimate

of the department of the Custodian of Property shows a

reduction of $633,002 as compared with 1946/47 and it is

hoped that the department will close down completely before

the end of the present year. The expenditure estimate for

the Supplies, Trade and Industry Department also shows a

reduction of $639,546 as compared with the previous year.

14.

Although, in so far as basic salaries are

concerned, personal emoluments show a reduction of

$1,705,500, it has been necessary to increase the provision under "Miscellaneous Services" for high cost of living,

rehabilitation and special allowances from seventeen to

twenty-four million. Five million of this represents a

token sum to cover the possible cost of the recommendations

of the Salaries Commission which is now reviewing the

emoluments of the public service. It seemed to me that it would be unrealistic if this considerable possible increase

in expenditure was not reflected at all in the expenditure estimates, and as the amount involved cannot be forecast, the best method seemed to be to make provision for a token

sum under this sub-head which could later be set off

against the actual increases in expenditure under each

departmental head. The balance of the increase in the

vote, amounting to two million, is due to the fact that provision has to be made for a twelve-month instead of an eleven-month period, and also as a result of the special