B.—4a

Summary. 448. The savings recommended in connection with this Department, so far as they can be assessed, are as follow :— Subdivision II —Patent Office. £ £ Item —Printing and stationery .. .. .. .. 300 Subdivision lll—Bankruptcy. Item—Bankruptcy work at New Plymouth, Masterton, Westport, and Greymouth .. .. .. • • 500 „ Postage and telegrams"! _ _ 200 ~ Rents .. .. j 700 Subdivision VI —Criminal Prosecutions. Item —Jurors' fees, &c. \ .. 1,500 Witnesses expenses, &c. f 1,500 Subdivision VII —Miscellaneous Services. Item —Commission on money-orders, &c. .. .. 100 „ Shorthand Reporters' Act, 1908 .. .. .. 10 „ Payment to Post and Telegraph Department for cost of restoring cable, &c. .. .. • • 308 Postage and telegrams, &c. .. .. .. 750 — 1,168 Closinq of Minor Courts .. . ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ • • 250 " — 250 General. Notices for sending liquor into no-license areas .. .. 1,000 1,000 Subdivision VIII —Registrar-General's Office. Item—Alteration of scale of fees for births, deaths, and marriages .. .. • • • • .. 5,000 „ Postage and telegrams, &c. .. .. .. 200 ~ Rent of offices .. .. . • • • • • 150 5,350 £10,268 449. There would be further considerable savings in respect of hotel and club license fees. VOTE—PRISONS. 450. The expenditure in this Department in 1914-15 and 1930-31 was as follows: —

451. The operations of the Department have been considerably extended since 1914-15 on account of amendments in the law, setting-up of Borstal Institutions, and the inauguration of prison farms, &c., on a wider scale than formerly. 452. The staff in 1914-15 numbered. 173 and in 1930-31 the number had risen to 296. 453. The Department is economically administered, and substantial economies have already been effected. This is evidenced by the following statement showing the net cost per prisoner over a number of years : — Year ended 31st March, £ Year ended 31st March, £ 1916 .. .. 59 1930 .. .. .. 62 1918 .. •• •• 70 1931 .. .. .. 66 1925 ~ .. .. 62 1932 .. ~ .. 59

50

1914-15. 1930-31. Salaries. Charges. T ° taL Salaries. Charges. TotaL . — £27,848 ! £34,092 £61,940 £75,974 | £95,408 £171,382 Less credits-in-aid 9,586 Less credits-in-aid 70,669 £52,354 £100,713 » ———