How Tuvalu Will 'Raise The Wind '

The first budget for the new British colony of Tuvalu, which came into existence on October 1 and which has to paddle its own canoe from January 1 this year, totals $A 1,687,150 —roughly half of it to come from local revenues.

Britain’s grant will be $A839,090, and local revenues are estimated to be $850,060, comprising personal tax revenue of $50,000, customs duties $125,000, philately and coinage $360,000.

Of the British grant, $250,000 will comprise working capital for the new colony.

In addition, Tuvalu will have deve lopment money, derived from grant

and loan funds, of $1,761,970 for 1976. This will be used, among other things, for the building of an adminis tration centre at the new capital of Funafuti, a civil servants’ home ownership loan scheme of $424,000, and houses for Her Majesty’s Com missioner, the Chief Minister and a government guest house, totalling $120,000. Education, including over seas scholarships and training, will take $220,000, and working capital for the co-operative wholesale society will be $425,000.

Tuvalu in 1976 is budgeting to spend, among other things, $758,980 on home affairs, including shipping and works, $354,280 on social ser vices and education, and $42,030 on commerce and natural resources.