I move:—
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £59,110 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1948, for Wound and Disability Pensions, Further Pensions and Married Pensions, Allowances and Gratuities (No. 26 of 1923, No. 12 of 1927, No. 24 of 1932, No. 15 of 1937, No. 2 of 1941, No. 14 of 1943 and No. 3 of 1946); Military Service Pensions, Allowances and Gratuities (No. 48 of 1924, No. 26 of 1932, No. 43 of 1934, No. 33 of 1938, No. 5 of 1944 and Nos. 11 and 34 of 1945); Pensions, Allowances and Gratuities (No. 37 of 1936); Payments in respect of Compensation for Members of the Local Defence Force (No. 19 of 1946) and for sundry Contributions and Expenses in respect thereof, etc.
This Supplementary Estimate is necessary in the first place because of the unexpected retiral of 14 officers during the year, which was not calculated for, and the overflow of the referee and the advisory committee from one year into the next. In addition, there was an unexpected increase in the number of applicants for special allowances under sub-heads I and J. That leads to a consequential increase in the amount required for St. Bricin's Hospital and a small increase in the amount required for medical and surgical instruments and supplies. If the House desires, I can go into more detail but those are the heads of the causes for the increase.