WAR EXPENSES ACCOUNT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 June 1943, Page 3

WAR EXPENSES ACCOUNT

SUBMISSION TO COMMITTEE OF HOUSE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. His willingness to submit the War Expenses Account to the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives was repeated by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in the House in reply to a question asked on behalf of the Speaker, Mr Barnard (as member for Napier), by Mr Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn). Mr Barnard’s question was whether, in view of the fact that war expenditure, which accounted for approximately three-quart-'vs of the Dominion’s total expenditure, was not al present subject to examination by the House as were civil estimates, the Prime Minister would set up a select committee to examine and report to the House on all proposed outlay under the War Expenses Account. That had been the special responsibility of the Leader of -the Opposition while a member of the War Cabinet, but since his retirement from that position no persons had apparently been appointed to carry out this work, which, it was suggested, was essential in the public

interest and was also the prerogative of the House.

The Prime Minister, replying immediately, said the duty of supervising war expenditure was the function of Mr Hamilton, and that could have been ascertained by inquiry. Mr Fraser said he was willing and would be very pleased indeed that the War Expenses Account be submitted to the Public Accounts Committee, which was an admirable and well-suited body, with representatives of all parties. On the suggestion of the Prime Minister the Public Accounts Committee of the House was increased to 15 members by the appointment of the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, the Minister in Charge of War Expenditure, Mr Hamilton, and Mr Harker (Opposition, Waipawa).