5. Reserve Fund.

The unallotted balance of the Reserve Fund on the 31st December, 1918, stood at £E. 585,005. The credits sanctioned against the Reserve Fund in 1919 amounted to £E. 465,500, and were opened for the following services :— £E. Rolling-stock and renewals (railways and steamers)... 145,000 Working cash balance ... ... ... ... 100,000 Public works ... ... ... ... ... 49,500 Electricity, water and ice supply plant, Khartoum ... 29,600 Reserve stores ... ... ... ... ... 30,000 Pearl fishery service ... ... ... ... 7,000 Flood protection works ... ... ... ... 4,500 Amortization of overdraft ... ... ... 20,000 Protection works, Gambeila ... ... ... 5,000 Erection of oil tank. Port Soudan... ... ... 5,000 Water supply sdieme ... ... ... ... 10,000 Re-arming Soudan Government Police ... ... 10,000 Various other services ... ... ... ... 49,900 Total 465,500 The balance remaining unpledged was £E.119,500. During the year the balance has been increased by the proceeds of sales of Government land and other receipts, and on the 31st December, 1919, it was approximately £E. 158,500. To this will have to be added the sum of £E. 267,500, representing the estimated surplus of 1919, making the total sum available in the Reserve Fund on the 1st January, 1920, £E. 426,000 The allotment of this sum is still under consideration, but owing to the fact that the Budget surplus is not the result of normal expansion of the revenue, but is mainly due to sources which are temporary, such as the receipts derived from the control and sale of sugar by Government and to the abnormal economic conditions prevailing, it is a matter ol paramount importance that a considerable sum should be left unallotted to meet emergencies.

6. Budget for 1920.

The following table gives a summary comparison of the Budget of 1919 and 1920 1919.

Estimated expenditure Estimated receipts £E. 3,500,000 3,500,000 £E. 2,685,000 2,685,000 The increase in the estimates of expenditure is made up as follows :— £E. New appointments (including appointments suspended in 1019 and 44,927 restored in 1920) Promotions and increases of pay affecting the Budget .. .. 33,932 Allowances and services.. .. .. .. .. .. 209,285 288,094 General increase of pay and war gratuity .. .. .. .. 526,906 Total [3437 y—2] 815,000 R 2 House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.