B.—4a

413. The following summary indicates the savings capable of assessment but the amount is far below that which would result from the adoption of the whole of the foregoing recommendations :— Subdivision I. —Industries and Commerce. £ £ Trade Representatives in Australia and Toronto .. .. 3,700 Curtailment of New Zealand administration by closing offices at Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, &c. .. .. 5,000 8,700 Subdivision II. —Tourist and Publicity. Trade Representatives in Australia and Toronto .. .. 3,600 3,600 New Zealand administration—closing of booking-offices and tourist bureaux .. .. .. .. .. 4,700 Publicity .. .. .. .. .. 5,500 10,200 Subdivision 111. —Census and Statistics. By curtailment of statistical data, &c. .. .. .. 4,000 4,000 £26,500 VOTE—DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. 414. The following table shows the expenditure under this vote in 1914-15 as compared with 1930-31. There was a separate vote for the Registrar-General's Office in 1914-15, but, as it has been included in the vote of the Department of Justice in 1930-31, it is shown heieunder for the purposes of comparison : —

415. It is difficult to suggest major economies in connection with this vote, as the duties of the Department are wholly statutory and cannot well be curtailed. We would, however, refer to the following matters : — Subdivision II. —Patent Office. Item—Printing and Stationery, £1,500. 416. This item should be reduced by £300. Saving, £300. Subdivision 111.— -Bankruptcy. 417. The bankruptcy work at certain towns is at present undertaken by Deputy Official Assignees, who are not officers of the Justice Department. Their remuneration is on a commission basis. 418. We consider that the work at New Plymouth, Masterton, Greymouth, and Westport should be undertaken by officers of the Department of Justice, and recommend that appointments be made accordingly, provided that this will not involve an increase in staff. We are informed that any such increase will be unnecessary.

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1914-15. 1930-31. Salaries. Total. Salaries. Total. £ £ £ £ £ £ Head Office .. .. .. .. 2,799 .. 2,799 4,091 .. 4,091 Patent Office .. .. .. .. 2,025 * 2,025 3,933 2,062 5,995 Supreme, Magistrates', and Wardens'Courts 36,322 23,917 60,239 69,504 22,124 91,628 Bankruptcy .. .. .. .. 1,298 1,727 3,025 5,622 3,686 9,308 Criminal prosecutions .. .. .. .. 12,102 12,102 .. 14,692 14,692 Coroners .. .. .. .. .. 4,453 4,453 .. 4,204 4,204 Miscellaneous services .. .. .. .. 16,453 16,453 .. 17,922 17,922 Registrar-General's Office .. .. 6,281 7,918 14,199 12,838 6,448 19,286 115,295 .. .. 167,126 Less Credits-in-aid .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12,213 Net expenditure .. .. .. .. .. 115,295 .. .. 154,913 * Included under Justice, Miscellaneous Services.