* * * The Estimates for the Civil Service have
risen by £4,700,000. At first sight it looks as though they had fallen, but it is always necessary at this time of year to remind readers that the official papers do not compare like with like ; £305,374,678 is compared with £311,461,909, but the latter figure includes all the Supplementary Estimates which were subsequently voted. It is said that the Army Estimate and the Air Force Estimate will be down by half a million each, but even so the Estimates will be very disappointing. We may yet have to come to a system of rationing, which is the method adopted by every prudent private person. He calculates how much he has to spend and distributes it r-er the various items. He does not say that this or that item is " necessary " and therefore must be paid fur—because he knows very well that, not having the money, he cannot pay.
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