B,— 4a

Item —Mineral Content of Pastures : Material, Apparatus, Labour, &c., £300. 1009. This item is capable of reduction by £100. These experiments have extended over many years, and the time has arrived when the annual vote should be reduced. This does not represent the whole cost, as provision is also made for expenditure by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research of £3,150 for 1931-32, and the Department of Agriculture also conducts experimental areas. The total expenditure amounts to some thousands of pounds annually. Saving, £100. Item —Postage, Telegrams, and Rent of Boxes, £4,400. 1010. This item can be reduced by £400. Saving, £100. Item—Preparation and Distribution of Publications, £2,225. 1011. This item should be reduced by £525. The Department has already made arrangements -to this end. Saving, £525. Item—Printing and Stationery, £2,200. 1012. This item should be reduced by £200. Saving, £200. Item —Rents of Offices in New Zealand, and Abroad, £7,450. 1013. The rental paid by the Department seems high, and we recommend that an endeavour be made to obtain premises in the various centres in buildings owned by the Government. In any event, considerable reductions in rent should be possible as a result of the National Expenditure Adjustment Act, 1932. We estimate savings at £1,450, Saving, £1,450. Item—Travelling Allowances and Expenses, £1,290. 1014. As a result of reduction in personnel, there should be considerable reduction in the amount paid for travelling allowances and expenses. Every effort should be made to keep travelling-expenses down to a minimum. 1015. We estimate possible savings at £290. Saving, £290. Subdivision II. —Live-stock Division. Item —Salaries, £84,050. 1016. According to the appropriations for 1931-32, the staff in this Division numbered 280 officers, while salaries for 1930-31 amounted, to £95,459 as against £32,757 in 1914-15. It appears that the growth of the Division has been considerably greater than the relative expansion of other Divisions of the Department and we recommend a drastic curtailment of the services rendered by this Division. 1017. As regards the veterinary work at present performed for primary producers, the Department should recover at least the travelling - expenses of the officer whose services are provided gratis. We recommend the reorganization of the Division and the reduction of services, particularly instructional, with a view to the curtailment of staff by approximately one-third. In no other way can the cost be brought down to a more reasonable figure in relation to the capacity of the taxpayer to bear it. A reduction of costs and of personnel as between the various Divisions of the Department might perhaps be brought about by better co-ordination of the work of the Divisions. The tendency to create watertight compartments within the Department has resulted in the appointment of numerous inspectors and others under special directorates. We are of opinion that the co-ordination of these services opens up a wide field of economy. An ultimate saving of approximately £28,000 in salaries of this Division should be aimed at. The saving for 1932-33 should be approximately £14,000. Other Charges for and Incidental to. 1018. Our recommendation in regard to the numerical strength of this Division should automatically result in a reduction in other charges. Item —Bicycles and Motors, Purchase of, £500. „ Maintenance and Running-costs of, £1,375. 1019. A reduction of at least 30 per cent, should be possible in these two items. The purchase of new cars should be deferred, but, no doubt, the curtailment of staff will enable the Department to utilize to advantage the cars it at present has. Saving, £560.

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