PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. MURDOCH, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1929 Session I, I-14

L—l 4

1929. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. MURDOCH, Chairman.)

Presented to the House of Representatives, and, ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, the 2nd Day or August, 1929. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 219 be suspended, and that a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of fourteen members, to examine into and report upon such questions relating to the public accounts as it may think desirable or that may be referred, to it by the House or the Government, and also into all matters relating to the finances of the Dominion which the Government may refer to it; to have power to call for persons and papers ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Black, Mr. Clinkard, Mr. Bogan, Mr. Howard, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jones, Mr. Lysnar, Mr. McCombs, Mr. Murdoch, Mr. Nash, the Hon. Mr. Downie Stewart, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Wilkinson, and the mover." —(Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward.)

REPORTS. Special Report. I have the honour to report that the members of the Public Accounts Committee desire to place on record their cordial appreciation of ability, tact, and unfailing courtesy with which Mr. A. J. Murdoch has, as Chairman, conducted the business of the Committee, and the members of the Committee further desire that this resolution be recorded on the minutes of the Committee, and also that it be reported to the House. Jas. T. Hogan, 7th November, 1929. Member of the Committee.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that at the final meeting of the Public Acounts Committee, held on Wednesday, the 6th day of November, 1929, the following resolution was agreed to, namely : " That this Committee desire to express their appreciation of the manner in which Mr. L. C. Dawe has carried out his duties as Clerk to the Committee ; and that this resolution be recorded in the minutes of the Committee, and also that it be reported to the House." 7th November, 1929.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Public Accounts Committee, consisting of fourteen members, has during the session held ten meetings, with an average attendance at each meeting of seven members. The estimates of expenditure for the financial year ending 31st March, 1930, were referred to the Committee by the Minister of Finance, the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward. In all, sixtyfour officers of the Departments of State were summoned before and examined by the Committee on the various classes of estimates, which were carefully considered seriatim. 7th November, 1929. A. J. Murdoch, Chairman.

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