B.—4a

Item —Portobello Fish-hatcheries : Grant for Maintenance, &c., £698. 740. This activity should be confined to a purely maintenance basis, and no further development should be undertaken. The sum of £300 for essential maintenance should suffice. Saving, £398. Item —Salmon Fisheries, Expenses in connection with, £750. „ Travelling Allowances and Expenses, £475. 741. These items can be reduced by £75 in all. Saving, £75. General. 742. We have considered the possibility of recommending an increase in the scales of fees charged by this Department for various services, and with the exception of deck-cargo license fees we cannot advise any increase, but the scale at present in force for licenses for the carrying of and inspection of deck cargo appears to be too low. We suggest that fees at the following rates be charged in future :— £ s. d. General license (annual) .. .. .. .. .. ..100 Special license .. .. .. .. .. .. ..150 For each inspection of deck cargo by a Surveyor of Ships .. ..110 743. It is estimated that increased revenue to the extent of £300 would result, virtually a saving. Publication of Nautical Almanac. 744. This is issued by the Marine Department. Nine hundred copies are printed, but only 620 copies at 3s. 6d. each are disposed of. The net cost to the Consolidated Fund, alter allowing for sales, is £1,175. 745. We consider that the price should be increased to at least 6s. per copy, thereby minimizing the loss, and that free issues should be restricted. Estimated saving, £100. Summary. 746. The savings recommended in this vote, so far as they can be assessed, are as follow : — Subdivision I.—Head Office :—• Item — £ £ Salaries .. .. . . • • ■ • • • • • 320 Office fittings, requisites \ Postage, telegrams, &c. J 440 Subdivision II. —Harbours : — Item —■ Salaries .. .. .. ■ ■ • • ■ • • ■ 500 Cargo-working gear, &c. \ 2qq Harbour-maintenance j 700 Subdivision 111. —Lighthouses : — Item — Salaries .. .. .. • - ■ ■ • • .. 1,100 Brothers Lighthouse tramway, &c. Burners, purchase of }■ . . . • 3,760 New lighthouse tender, purchase of J 4,860 Subdivision IV. —Mercantile Marine : — Item — Salaries .. .. . . . . . ■ • ■ ■. 600 Advertising, photographs, &c. ") Examinations (expenses) Office fittings, requisites Y ■ ■ • ■ ■ ■ ■ • 320 Postage, telegrams, &c. Rent J Telephone connections to residences of Superintendents of Mercantile Marine .. .. .. .. .. 50 970 Subdivision V. —Inspection of Machinery :— Item — Salaries . . .. .. . . .. .. 3,200 Motor-vehicles, purchase of .. . . .. .. 150 Office fittings, requisites .. .. . . .. .. 250 Post and Telegraph Department, &c.~l Postage, telegrams, &c. .. .. .. 270 Printing and stationery J Transfer and removal expenses of officers .. .. .. 800 Travelling allowances and expenses .. .. .. 1,790 6,460

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