H—ll

Section 12 —Finance and Expenditure (a) Vote, "Labour and Employment" (£1,281,299 Net) (1) Expenditure by the Department of Labour and Employment is subject to annual appropriation by Parliament in terms of the Public Revenues Act, 1926, and provision is made for this expenditure to be met from the Consolidated Fund under vote, " Labour and Employment." This vote is divided into five subdivisions set out below. The figures shown against the total vote above and the amount against each subdivision is the net expenditure in each case after the sums received by the Department under the Treasury revenue item " Departmental receipts" have been deducted. (2) Subdivision I: Administration (£3B-5,066 Net). —An increase in expenditure of £25,249 recorded under this vote for administration expenses is attributable to the present shortage of cadets and consequent necessity of employing adults at a higher remuneration and a general salary increase of £25 per annum from Ist October, 1947. Expenditure concerned with fitting up accommodation consequent upon the amalgamation, although completed in some instances prior to 31st March, 1948, did not come to charge until last financial year. Additional inspection work undertaken by departmental inspectors, and more numerous and frequent meetings of New Zealand and local Apprenticeship Committees, resulted in increased expenditure compared with those items in the previous year. (3) Subdivision II: Employment (£337,831 Net).- —The main items of expenditure under this subdivision were — (i) Accommodation for workers (camps and hostels, including Public Service but excluding immigration hostels) — £ • £ Capital expenditure .. .. .. .. 228,901 Less capital receipts .. .. .. .. 1,386 Net capital expenditure .. .. 227,515 Operational expenditure .. .. .. 126,521 Less board receipts .. .. .. .. 120,399 Cash working surplus .. .. .. 6,122 Net capital and operational expenditure .. £233,637 (ii) Home Aid Service — £ £ Capital cost of hostels, including equipment .. .. .. 378 Hostel-operating costs .. .. .. .. 2,051 • Less board receipts .. . '. .. .. 1,011 Cash working deficit .. .. .. 1,040 Operating-expenses for Home Aid Service (excluding hostel expenses) .. .. .. .. 13,892 Less payments by householders .. .. .. 9,061 Net operation charges (excluding hostels) .. 4,831 Net capital and operational expenditure .. .. £6,249 The excess of £4,831 of operational expenses (excluding hostel costs) over payments by householders for services rendered is accounted for mainly by reductions in charges for necessitous cases.

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