LEGISLATIVE EXPENDITURE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1306, 4 August 1886, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE EXPENDITURE

Wellington, Augist 3. Following is tl e report i f the Legislative Expanditu-e Committee Your Committee. to whom iias referred the enquiry into the expenditure comectad with the Legislature of tho colony, have to report lh»t they have not only taken eviJ n.lO and olti ; nei returns and other Inf rme.tion connec'ed with both branches of the Legislature of tho colony, but have inquired into the working and expenditure or the Legislative bodies of other countries and co’.on'es. 1. Tour Committee are of opinion that tho number of members in each House of the Legislature can bo reduced with advantage to the colony, both in the matter of good government and saving of expanse; 2. That no member of Parliament shonld receive any salary or payment for his services as Chairman of any Committee. 3 That the amount of honorarium should in no case exceed £l£o, and that members residing within a radius of ton miles from Wellington shall he entitled to receive no more than £6O. 4. That there are several officocs receiving large annual salaries whose duties do not occupy them at the utmost more than six months it the year, and in some instances not more than four months, while officers on the Hansard staff, other c han the bief reporter, are only employed during the session; that there is no reason why such officers should not be, and your Committee are convinced that they can be, fully employed for the benefit of and with economy to the public service. 7 That certain officers whose time is but partially employed, receive, in addition to salaries, gratuities or bonuses for work which they should be required to perform as falling within the fcope of their duty. 6. That the full em- I ploymant of officers on'y partially em- ’ ployed will enable the Government to lessen the number of officers without ; flhoting the efficiency of the Government service. 7. Your Committee recommend the discontinuance of all bonuses or gratuities to officers in tho public service, without tho sanction of Parliament. 8. That no addition should be made to the salaries of any officers which are fixed by Act of Parliament. 9 That the GoI vernmort should be directly responsible for all Parliamentary expenditure, and that all officers should be under the direct control of the Government. 10. Your Committee fare of opiniomhat the cost connected with the printing generally, acd of Hansard In particular, is unnecessarily large; and that the us<o-of coilgraphs by the Hansard staff has rot, by reason of the inefficiency of the staff in the'r use, tended to decrease such expense. II That with a view to encouraging the use of shoithand by officers in the Civil Service, preference should be given to candidates able to write shorthand. 12, Your Committee would suggest that an amendment be made in the Standing Orders to ensure the continuance of business between sessions without the retracting steps or repetitions, as provided by the following regulation taken from the procedure of the Congress of the United States of America, viz : ‘ Unfinished business of the session rule 27, page 184 J; After six days'from the commencement of a second or subsequent sessions of any Congress, ad Bills, resolutions and reports which originated in the House and remained undetermined at the close of the last preceding session, shall be in order of action, and all business before Committees of tho House at the end of one session shall be resumed at the commencement of the next session of the same Congress in the same manner as if no adjournment had Ukan place.’ 13 Yonr Committee rooomend that steps be taken during the recoes to obtain the necessary i information for the completion of the annual re'urn relating to the procedure of Legis a ure in other countries.’