CO129-597-3 Estimates 1950 22-2-1949 - 3-11-1950 — Page 194

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have been made. The rehabilitation of Fanling Lodge was completed during the year and an additional $3,000 is provided for under Fuel, Light and Power for this additional building. The total increase on Other Charges amounts to $7,400. The nett increase of expenditure on the head is $12,318.

Head 2.- Agriculture Department.

Estimato 1949-50.

Revised Estimate 1948-49. Approved Estimate 1948-49. Actual Expenditure 1947-48.

$730,228

270,000

446,085

196,720.

This department was formerly a sub-department

of the Development Secretariat but is now shown separately. During 1948-49 a Senior Agriculture Officer and an Agriculture Officer (Animal Husbandry) arrived in the Colony. For the first time since the resumption of civil government two senior officers have been able to devote their full time to agriculture. As a result of their examination of the requiroments of this department a number of changes are proposed in 1949-50. One of the weaknesses of the previous organisation was the absence of officers with some scientific training to carry out the work organised by the senior officers. Consequently seven new posts of Agricultural Assistants have boon created to serve as a link between the two senior officers and their foremon and labourers. The opportunity has also boon taken to detail certain officers previously shown under the temporary staff in the non-pensionable establishment.

Offsetting this increase in staff seven officers whose duties were exclusively connected with the Wholesale Vogetable Market have been transferred to that organisation which is now shown as a separate sub-department under Co-operatives and Marketing. Tho not effect on personal emoluments is a reduction of $14,857.

The large increase in Other Charges of $111,500 is largely explained by the provision of 50,000 to cover labour charges in respect of an expanded programme of farm and animal husbandry work and of $32,500 for the prevention and control of livestock diseases. The increased attention to animal husbandry is also reflected in the increase of $10,000 for livestock, foods, and equipment, and of two new items under Special Expenditure, namely Experimental and Breeding Station $143,000 and Control of Stock Diseases $55,000. expenditure totalling approximately 300,000 is provided for an extensive programme designed to improve livestock in the Colony. This programme almost exclusively accounts for the increase of expenditure under this head of $284,143.

In all

Hoad 3. Audit Dopartment.

Estimate 1949-50.

Revised Estimato 1948-49.

Approved Estimate 1948-49. Actual Expenditure 1947-48.

$243,807

260,000

263,401

175,078

Consequent on the retirement of the former

Director of Audit and a member of the pre-war Senior Clerical and Accounting Staff, together with some minor economies in recurrent expenditure, the provision for