B. —4.

182. This covers the expenditure on steamer passages for members of both Houses and for members' wives. Members of the Legislature are entitled at any time to travel at the public expense between the port most convenient of access to their homes and any other port in New Zealand to enable them to come to and return from Wellington. We recommend that a definite limit be placed on the number of trips allowable to each member, and suggest that a limit of eight return trips should be ample. 183. Members are also entitled to receive tickets entitling them to travel by service motor-car if there is no reasonably convenient railway or steamer service. We recommend a similar limit of eight return trips in this instance. 184. The wives of South Island members (including a, relation acting as housekeeper if the member has no wife) are granted six return tickets to and from Wellington. A limit of three return tickets should be ample. 185. Against this item are also chargeable travelling-expenses at the rate of 18s. per day and taxi fares, &c., for members coming to Parliament or returning home after the session. Travellingallowance is payable for each day or part of a day on which members are travelling to Wellington or returning to their homes. We consider that in view of modern transport facilities, the payment of the allowance should be confined to cases where the period of travelling exceeds twenty-four hours, and that in other cases actual and reasonable expenses only should be paid. Estimated saving, £500. Item, Postage and telegrams, £1,700. 186. The expenditure chargeable against this item is in respect of postage on Hansard to persons nominated by members, correspondence, &c., of members during the session. 187. The franking privileges mentioned above, which are extended to members during the session, are in addition to the monthly supply of stamps issued to members under the authority of the Public Revenues Act, 1926, and we have already recommended that the latter be discontinued. We consider that with closer supervision this item should be reduced by £200. Item, Printing of Statutes, Journals, <£c., £10,000. 188. This covers the cost of printing of Bills, journals, appendices, Order Papers, &c. We consider that the appendices should be reviewed, as it should be possible to avoid the printing of some of them. We also consider that the number of Bills supplied to members should be limited, and that the supplying of a bound copy of the Appendices should be discontinued. Estimated saving, £3,000. Items— Railway passes and concessions to members and ex-members of the £ Legislature, families, relations, &c. .. .. .. 25,500 Railway sleeping-berths for members of Parliament .. .. .. 1,250 Railway lounge-car seats for members of Parliament .. .. .. 25 Railway sleeping-berths and lounge-car seats for members' wives .. 175 189. Members of the Legislature and their wives obtain free railway passes over all lines in New Zealand at an annual cost of £92 10s. each. The system of issuing free passes is an unnecessary extravagance and should be abolished. In lieu thereof a warrant system should be introduced entitling members to free railway travel on production of orders signed by themselves. We recommend that members be entitled to free tickets up to a value of not more than £50 in any one year. We can see no reason for the privilege of unlimited free railway travel. 190. In regard to the privilege extended to members' wives, we are definitely of the opinion that unlimited free travel should be abolished. The privilege to members' wives, or, if a member has no wife to some relation acting as housekeeper, should be limited to three return tickets to Wellington each year. 191. Free railway passes are also issued to ex-members who have had ten years' service or have served in three Parliaments. These passes are renewable on application. We recommend that this privilege to ex-members be abolished. 192. Free railway passes are also provided for such ex-members' wives for a period of one year. This privilege should also be abolished. 193. Free railway passes for life have also been issued to the wives of deceased Ministers in certain cases. We recommend that no further passes of this description be issued. 194. Finally, half cost of railway travel to and from Wellington for families of members of the Legislature is provided. The families of the members are entitled to travel to and from Wellington as often as desired at half rates. We recommend that this privilege be abolished. Total estimated savings, £12,800. Item, Refund to Post Office, being Difference between Special and Ordinary Rates for Telegrams from Members of the General Assembly. 195. There is a special charge of 6d. for thirty-six words by telegram for members of the General Assembly, who can send unlimited telegrams at this rate. This rate was not varied when telegraph charges were generally increased. A fixed charge of £1,200 on the Legislative Department is made by the Post Office for the difference. We recommend that the charge be increased to Is, for thirty-six words. Estimated saving, £600, • ■ • •

20