£4,000,000 Per Annum

Expenditure in Papua-New Guinea

A SUMMARY of the finances of the Territory of Papua-New Guinea, for the year ended June 30 last, was published in the official Gazette in De cember.

It is disclosed that, during the year, the Territory had available for its purposes the sum of £4,720,000, the sources of which were: £ Surplus from 1948 period .. 290,000 From local taxes 1,234,000 Grant from Australia .. .. 3,196,000 Most of the local taxation came from Customs, which raised no less than £914,000, which was just on a quarter million more than in 1948. Next best revenue producers were Mines, £59,000 and Post Office, £51,000. Owing to the way in which the figures are presented, it is not possible to know the amount of gold royalty received —presumably, it is included in Customs.

The Territory spent just over £4,000,000 in 1948-9, and carried forward a surplus of £709,000. It is impossible to tell, from this summary, just where the money went. £1,478,000 was dispersed through “Mis cellaneous Services,” and £628,000 through “Additions, new works, etc.” District Services got £638,000, Police £191,000, Public Health £131,000, Education £147,000, and Public Works £153,000.

It may be noted that, while this Terri tory is spending at the rate of £4,000,000 per annum, its own revenues do not ex ceed £1,250,000. The balance is provided by the reluctant Australian taxpayer. As more than £2,000,000 is accounted for in the mysterious items of “Miscellaneous Services” and “New Works, etc.,” and if we presume that that expenditure is not essential, it may be found that, if Aus tralia gets tired of subsidising the Terri tory, most of the Departments can carry on most of their operations on the Terri tory’s own revenues.

Much will depend upon the view taken by the new Australian Government.

Messrs. Menzies and Fadden are anxious to reduce taxation, and they are certain to cast a calculating eye upon those very generous gifts to Papua-New Guinea.