FACTS AND FIGURES.

To judge from the wild statements which are now being made by that section of Labour which has refused to support the Prime Minister and Mr. Snowden in the matter of drastic economies, it may, perhaps, be useful to place on record just a few plain facts showing how Expenditure has increased during the period covered by the two years of Socialist administration. In placing these figures on record it must not be supposed, however, that the previous Conservative administration is guiltless in the matter of extravagance. Such is far from the truth, for they not only added greatly to the Expenditure during their period of office, but even in the increase which has taken place during the past two years under the Socialists some portion must be attributed to the carrying out of the policies of previous administrations. The following table shows the estimated Expenditure for the principal Supply Services in each of the years 1929, 1930, and 1931, and is taken from the statement of Ordinary Revenue and Expenditure issued by the Treasury for each of those years at the time of the introduction of the Budget. These figures were recently published in the Times with the footnote showing the total estimated Ordinary Expenditure for each of the years.

DEFENCE (excluding pensions)—

1929 1930 1931 Army 32,280,000 32,117,000 31,180,000 . Navy 47,312,000 43,070,000 42,809,000 Air Force .. 15,983,000 17,584,000 17,846,000 Civxi

Central Government

. meat and finance .. 2,163,000 2,066,000 2,097,000 Imperial and foreign 5,144,000 5,890,000 5,765,000 Law and justice .. 12,407,000 15,897,000 16,343,000 Education .. - 50,004,000 55,138,000 58,381,000 Health, Labour, Insur- ance (including Old

' Age and Widows'

Pensions 79,056,000 96,996,000

119,398,000

Trade and industry .. 9,258,000 12,320,000 8,765,000 Buildings, rates, &c. 8,230,000 8,486,000

8,855,000

War and civil pensions 56,332,000 54,244,000

52,680,000 The total estimated ordinary expenditure for each of the years was :

1929 .. 691,564,000 1930 .. 731,809,000 1931 .. 751,316,000

This enormous increase, it must be remembered, was incurred not during a period of prosperity, but when there were abundant signs that the weight of taxation was gravely affecting industry.

(Continued on page-vi.) _