Wha Ts In The Kitty?

The SPC’s income for the 1978 budget is a record A $3 157 696 and it is expected that every cent will be spent, including an unexpected $166 279 which was found still in the kitty when the works programme budget was rounded off So a comparative newcomer to Island activities, the South Pacific Arts Festival to be held in 1980 in PNG gets a windfall, $l9 513 as grants-in-aid and for secretarial assistance.

Biggest spender will he information services and data analysis with $BB9 253. Community services get just over half that and awards and grants $202 500.

There was no argument over the amount of contributions. Every one of the 22 countries and territories present increased their contributions.

The nine participating governments metropolitans and indepen dent Island countries contributed (percentage of total in brackets): Australia, (33.6%) $987 015; Fiji, (0.85%) $24 969; France, (14%) $4ll 256; Nauru, (0.85%) $24 969; New Zealand, (18%) $528 758- Papua New Guinea, (0.85%) $24 969; United Kingdom, (14%) $4ll 256; United States, (17%) $499 382; Western Samoa, (0.85%) $24 969.

From the rest of the Islands came a total of $34 027, made up of, American Samoa $3 409; Cook Islands $4 140; French Polynesia $1 186; Guam $8 782; New Caledonia $2 371; New Hebrides $3 174; Niue $1 731; Solomon Islands $2 622; Tokelau $1 000; Tonga $1 092; Territories (Micronesia) $2 727; Tuvalu $1 200; Wallis & Futuna Other income comprised: grants from other sources to support specific projects $5O 000; funds available for revote $B5 126; from reserves $l2 000; sales of publications $9 000; other income $3O 000 a total of $lB6 126.

The United Kingdom announced that any contributions made by any o f their dependent territories on independence would be deducted from the UK s share. The delegation added that the secretariat, for future years, should allow for no new growth in the administrative budget, apart from that caused by anticipated inflation which meant “Keep staff do wn!"