XN000022-1978-03-01 — Page 24

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1978

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PUBLIC SECTOR ENTERS NEW ERA

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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON, PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID TODAY THE PUBLIC SECTOR, BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATIONS LAID IN THE 1950S AND 1960S AND THE ECONOMY OF WHICH IT FORMS SUCH A VITAL PART, HAS BEEN LIFTED +TC A NEW ORDER OF MAGNITUDE.+

CONCLUDING HIS BUDGET SPEECH IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID: +30, WHILST CUR FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS HAVE STOOD US IN GOOD STEAD OVER THE YEARS, AND OVERHEAD COSTS HAVE BEEN KEPT VERY LOW BY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, THEY MAY NOT BE ENTIRELY SUITABLE FOR PRESENT DAY CIRCUMSTANCES.

+IT WILL, THEREFORE, BE NECESSARY FOR CAREFUL THOUGHT TO BE GIVEN TO THE WAY IN WHICH OUR ADMINISTRATION MIGHT BE ADAPTED TO

EET THE CHALLENGES OF THE YEARS AHEAD OF US, HE SAID.

BR. HADDON-CAVE POINTED OUT THAT AS WE MOVE TOWARDS THE END OF THE 1970S AND START THINKING ABOUT THE EARLY YEARS OF THE NEXT DECADE, WE SHOULD BEGIN TO ASSESS THE IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR SYSTEM CF FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION, AND FOR THE ORGANISATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION AS A WHOLE, OF THE PRESENT SIZE AND SCOPE OF CUR ACTIVITIES.

HE SAID: +WHETHER ONE CONSIDERS THE TOTAL VOLUME OF GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT TRANSACTIONS OF OVER $20,000 MILLION IN 127P-79, OR OF CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT TRANSACTIONS OF OVER $23,000 MILLION (NOT TO MENTION THE ACTIVITIES OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION), IT IS OBVIOUS THAT OUR SITUATION HAS CHANGED OUT CF ALL RECOGNITION.+

THE DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1978-79 WAS, ADJOURNED.

TELEVISIO TALK C FUDGET

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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY. THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SPOKE 01: THE 1978/79 DUSCET I / TELEVISION BROADCAST THIS (EDTESDAY) EVENING.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF HIS TALK:

GOOD EVENING,

+THIS AFTERNOON I PRESENTED NY SEVENTH BUDGET TO THE LECICLOP COUNCIL: THE LUSCET 200 207-7, AT 10 TO 3, Y FOTOFND_ YEAR LEE IAITE ON .PRIL THE 107.

بهم

TERMS

+C THE STATE OF THE ECONOHY I WAS ELE TO REPOFT T..T FOLLOWED UP CUR POST-RECESC FOOT YEAR OF 1076 ..ITH PROSPEROUS YEAR. I 1977 Com acolcY CRE. LY 12 PER CENT ¦

TOTAL OUTPUT CF 3000S AND SERVICES. AT THE SAME TIME, CONSUMER PRICES INCREASED CHLY ODESTLY LY 5-C PER CENT IN 1977 COMPARED WITH 1076.

/+TET 3 YEAR