4 a

Item—Postages, telegrams, &c., £5,200. 473. This item should be reduced by £1,500. Saving, £1,500. Item —Rent of Offices, £1,322. 474. This item should be reduced by £250. Saving, £250. Item—Special Annuities, £4,799. 475. This item is to provide for the payment of certain special annuities on account of accidents, compassionate allowances, &c., and to officers of various Departments of State and also, in a few cases, to supplement superannuation received. Annuities are also paid to certain ex-members of Parliament and to the widows of certain ex-members. We recommend that all ex gratia payments such as are provided under this item be strictly limited in future. Summary. 476. The savings recommended, as far as they can be assessed, are as follow : — Item — £ Medical fees .. .. . . .. .. - .. 1,200 Medical treatment, burial expenses and expenses incidental thereto, &c. 5,000 Post and Telegraph Department for services of officers .. 2,000 Postages, telegrams, &c. .. .. .. .. . • 1,500 Rent of offices .. .. .. .. .. .. . • 250 £9,950 VOTE—MINES DEPARTMENT. 477. The expenditure under this vote for 1914-15 and 1930-31 was as follows

478. While there has not been any abnormal increase in the expenditure since 1914-15, it must be remembered that there is now another branch of the Department —namely, State Coal-mines —the cost of which is not included in the above figures, and we shall deal with that branch separately. 479. The staff in 1914-15 numbered forty-three and in 1930-31 twenty-seven. 480 The net cost of administration for 1930-31, including interest and depreciation and taking credit for rents, royalties, and fees under the Coal-mines Act, 1925, amounted to £21,247. 481. There is not much scope for economy in this Department. 482. After a review of the appropriations, we have to report as follows:— Subdivision II. —Assistance towards Mining. Item —Prospecting for Gold and other Minerals, £7,000. 483. This item is to provide assistance to enable prospecting to be carried out. Considerable expenditure is now being incurred by the Unemployment Board for the same purpose, and we are therefore of opinion that this charge on the Consolidated Fund should be suspended as assistance should not be given from two sources. Saving, £7,000. Item —Bounty payable to Onakaka Iron and Steel Co., £3,200. 484. This is a non-recurrent item, and represents a reduction on 1932-33 appropriations. Saving, £3,200.

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1914-15. 1930-31. Salaries. Other Charges. Total, x Salaries. Other Charges. Total. £ £ £ £ £ £ 9,415 15,966 25,381 10,240 22,221 32,461 Less credits-in-aid .. 1,527 £25,381 £30,934