1.—14.

2

REPORTS. Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill. The Public Accounts Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed, with the amendment as shown on a copy of the Bill attached. 2nd September, 1925.

Land and Income Tax (Annual) Bill. The Public Accounts Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 9th September, 1925.

Repayment op Public Debt Bill. The Public Accounts Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned Bill, has the honour to report that the said Bill has been carefully considered, and the Committee recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 9th September, 1925.

No. 175.—Petition of The Trustees op the New Zealand Sheepowners' Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund. Praying for the remission of the sum of £34,998 6s. 7d., being the amount of taxation levied by the Government on the moneys payable to the trust fund from the distribution of surplus wool profits, and for the amendment of the Land and Income Tax Act, 1923, so that the fund and properties administered by the trustees should be exempted from taxation. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 17th September, 1925.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that the Public Accounts Committee desires to express its appreciation of Mr. G. C. C. Black's services as Clerk of the Committee. He has performed his duties in a faultless manner, and the Committee recommends that he be permanently appointed Clerk to the Public Accounts Committee. 30th September, 1925.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Public Accounts Committee, consisting of twelve members, has during the present session held fourteen meetings, with an average attendance of nine members at each meeting. Three Bills —namely, the Repayment of the Public Debt Bill, the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill, and the Land and Income Tax (Annual) Bill—were referred to the Committee, and the same were carefully considered by the Committee and reported upon to the House. One petition was referred to the Committee, and the same was reported upon to the House. Consideration of the Estimates of Expenditure for the Year ending 31st March, 1926. The estimates of expenditure for the year ending 31st March, 1926, were brought up in Committee by the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nosworthy), and the classes were carefully considered seriatim by your Committee. The procedure adopted in the consideration of the estimates was to summon the head of each Department of State, together with the departmental Accountant, before your Committee, and to examine such officers on the several items and votes of the classes of their Department or Departments. The Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. R. E. Hayes) and the Assistant Secretary (Mr. A. D. Park) were also requested to attend during the examination of the abovementioned officers, and materially assisted the Committee in their investigations. In all sixty-eight officers of the several Departments of State were summoned before and examined by your Committee on the estimates. Working Railways Department. —Your Committee investigated the system of accounting and of stores control which has been recently adopted in this Department, and also the activities of the Architectural Branch of the Department in connection with the erection of houses. Your Committee is of the opinion that the newly adopted system will enable the Department to be administered on true commercial principles.