B.—4A,

55

special advances to mining companies by the Crown is not warranted. It is apparently intended to provide for future advances out of the Consolidated Fund, bilt even this is hardly justifiable, particularly in view of the heavy losses which have already been incurred in respect of previous advances. Summary. 499. The following is a summary of the economies recommended herein, so far as they can be assessed :— Subdivision 11. Assistance towards Mining : — Item — ® Prospecting for gold and other minerals .. .. •• 7,000 Bounty payable to Onekaka Iron and Steel Co. .. •• 3,200 Diamond and other drills and appliances .. .. .. 200 10,400 Schools of mines .. .. •• •• •• I>ooo 1,000 Subdivision 111. Miscellaneous Services :— Item— Instrument and outfit allowances, &c. .. .. ■ • M Postage, telegrams, rent of boxes .. • • • • 75 Rents .. • • • • • • • • • • j^O Travelling allowances and expenses .. .. • • 1 50 368 General: — Goldfields revenue .. .. .. •• •• •• Gold-dealers' licenses .. .. • • ■ • • • 200 Z,UUU Total ■ . £13 > 768

VOTE—DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS. 500. It is difficult owing to changes in administrative control to obtain a reliable comparison of the present expenditure with the expenditure in this Department m earlier years. 501. The vote for 1931-32 comprised eight subdivisions, as follow

502. The foregoing, however, does not give a proper perspective of the many services administered by the Department. Amongst these are the following : (а) Local government. (б) Totalizator inspections. (c) Issue of passports. (d) War graves and memorials. (e) War funds. (/) Raffles. (g) Government advertising. (h) Entertainment of distinguished visitors. (i) Control of deer. (j) Rotorua Acclimatization District. (k) Censorship of films. (I) Messenger and cleaning services. (m) New Zealand Gazette. \n) Town-planning. (o) Turnbull Library. (p) Stores Control Board. (q) Animals Protection and Game Act.

Subdivision. Salaries. Other Charges. Total. I. Head Office 26,013% 45,963 II. Government Actuary's Office .. .. •• 3,753 545 , III. Ministers' Secretaries 8,661 50 8,/11 IV. Messengers, Office-keepers, and Charwomen .. a,*)* 'Z'.H V. High Commissioner's Office 22,759 14,717 , VT Mnspum .. •• •• •• Z,llo 1,411 ± } aovj TO Explosives Branch M» »•»» VIJI. Miscellaneous Services .. •• •• 19,941 49,890 69,83 Gross total 152,005 98,526 250,531 Credits-in-aid .. •• 37,539 15,108 52,647 Net total .. •• •• •• 114,466 83,418 197,884