Tongan Parliament.
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
Estimates Drastically Pruned.
From Our Own Correspondent.
Nukualofa, Aug. 10.
THE 32nd session of the Legislative Assembly closed on the 2nd instant, after a short sitting' of three weeks.
The Executive in presenting the esti mates, emphasised the fact that, al though the Kingdom was in the happy position of having an invested surplus, it was necessary to balance the budget for the coming year. To attain that end without increasing taxation and cutting salaries they had been com pelled to make drastic retrenchment in the Civil Service.
The House accepted the proposals without much demur and the finalised estimates show an anticipated revenue of £65,995 with a provided expenditure of £63,599 (compared with £69,045 last year).
Ten European and six Tongan ser vants are to be retired in December next. In some cases, junior officers are required to carry out the duties of seniors on the retiring list without ex tra pay, whilst others are provided with dual jobs, also, according to the pub lished estimates, without increase in their present salaries. No provision has been made for any new appointment to the Service.