GROWING COST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 196, 19 August 1936, Page 10

GROWING COST.

HIGH COMMISSIONED

ADMINISTRATION EXPENSE. RESTORATION OF CUTS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON,'T.uesday. i The glowing cost of maintaining the I High Commissioner's office in London was commented upon in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr, J. Hargast (National, Awarua). He said that six years ago the cost was- £25,000,' while to-day the vote proposed was £43,000, compared with £39,000 last year.' j The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry, said a great deal of the increase was due to increases in salaries. •' I Mr. Hargest, who was dealing with the estimates of the Internal AffairsDepartment, asked whether the office i was becoming more important year, after year. Was it doing additional work? An added expepse of the office was attendances at Geneva. He also drew attention to the fact that in the (

salaries list £788 was set down for an economic adviser and £494 for a finance officer and accountant; While in the. list of non-permanent salaries £307 '.vas voted for a finance officer and £207 foi an : economic adviser. He wanted to know whether it was necessary to have two economic advisers and two finance officers. The Minister said the greatest amount of the increased vote was for thd restoration of salary cuts. The work of the office was increasing and it was /essential to have a staff to meet the demands. The veterinary officer had to examine all live stock (shipped to-' the Dominion. Mr. Hargest asked whether the people who sent stock out were responsible for the charges. Mr. Parry: Yes. They are responsible, but it seems to me that it is necessary for us to. make sure that no diseased animals or birds are shipped to New Zealand.