IS IT EXCESSIVE?

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 34, 8 August 1925, Page 13

IS IT EXCESSIVE?

COST OF HIGH COMMISSIONER'S

OFFICE

Increases in the cost of running the High Commissioner's Office were commented upon by Mr. R. Masters (Stratford) in the House of Representatives last night. The cost for clerks and messengers alone was £23,566, as compared with £6535 in 1916. He would like to know the cause of such a great increase. There was also an increase in rental to £8000, and some explanation was needed on that point. Why was £1000 being paid to the High Commissioner to meet his expenses in connection with the Empire Exhibition? Last year £1000 was put on the Estimated for entertainment expenses, but £2048 was expended. Also, it was proposed to pay £1000 for a new car for the High Commissioner. Although £8000 a year renjtal was being charged for the High Commissioner's Office, repairs, cost £800 a y€'ar, which suggested that the Dominion should acquire its own property in London, and save such high rental. Why should tha office cost £47,570 a year to run. There was a feeling growing up in this country that too much, waste was going on in the Public Ser/ice, and certainly it seemed that extravagance was going on at the High Commissioner's Office. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) thought Sir James Allen was doing his utmost to keep down the running expunses of the office. There was need, however, for the. Dominion to consider tho location of a better site than that at present utilised in the Strand. Australia House occupied one of the best sites in London, and twice a day films were shown describing life in Australia. That was a great advertisement to that country. The speaker considered that Sir James Allen was incurring personal financial loss in trying to carry out his duties. New Zealand should have offices in which it could show Dominion films, and the Government should consider the question of obtaining a better building. Mr. A; R. Harris (Waitemata) considered that the site and building were suitable. Considering that Australia was expending £180,000 a year on its oifice the expenditure on the New Zealand office could not be considered excessive. He thought, however, that 29 New Zealandcrs out of a staff of 130 was too small a proportion. Visitors to the office wero treated with the highest courtesy.

Mr. S. G._ Smith (Taranaki) remarked that wrong information was often given immigrants at the High Commissioner's Office. That should -be remedied.

The Uon. R. F. Bollard (Minister in Charge of the High Commissioner's Office), sdd the dignity and honour of yew Zealand had to be upheld. The work had" increased, and that had necessitated an increase in the Btaff. Some time ago they had tried to buy a place in London, but the expense was too great. " To reduce the rent meant going into a back street, and nobody wanted to put New Zealand into a back street in London. Much of the increased expenditure had been due to the Empire Exhibition. One item of £400 alone was incurred in entertaining the All Blacks.