INCREASED EXPENSES QUESTIONED

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21865, 19 August 1936, Page 12

INCREASED EXPENSES QUESTIONED

COST OF HIGH COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE [From Our Parliamentary Reporter 1 WELLINGTON, August 18. Reasons for an increase in the expenses of the High Commissioner’s office were sought by Mr J. Hargast (Nat,. Awarug) during the discussion on the estimates In the House of Representatives ta-day. Mr Hfcrgegt mentioned dipt the Government was this year making provision for the payment of £43,116 for the upkeep oi the High Commissioner’s office, which represented an increase of more than £SOOO cn the amount the previous year. Some years ago the expenses of the office amounted to only £25,000, and the cost seemed to be increasing each year, Mr Hargest asked whether it was necessary to have .two economic advisers and two finance officers in the office, and also sought information about an item of £2OOO for the services of a veterinary officer. The Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, stated In reply, that for the most part the increase in the expenses of the office was accounted for by the restoration of the cuts in salaries. It had to be realised also that as time went on the work of the office was increasing, and it WPS obvious that the work could not be done without an adequate staff.