PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

Evening Star, Issue 19003, 27 July 1925, Page 3

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

UNAUTHORISED ITEMS [From Ode Fabliau entaev Eefobteh.] WELLINGTON, July 25. Tlio Estimates submitted annually for the approval of the House of Representatives cover, as far as can bo foreseen, all contingencies of administration, but a certain amount of latitude is given for expenditure which cannot be authorised in advance. These items are reported to Parliament. They aggregated last year £86,915. Substantial over-expenditure also took place in connection with the Public Works Fund, the excesses being: Telegraph extension, £72,989 ; irrigation, water supply, and drainage, £2i,995. The State Eire Department expended £17,500 on its purchase of ollico premises in Worcester street, Christchurch. The expenses incidental to the compulsory enrolment of electors under last session’s Act, amounted to £7,0.19. A grant of £I,OOO was made by the Internal Affairs Department to the Girl Guides’ Association, half of which goes to the endowment fund, and £SOO for genera! purposes. A grant of £125 was made towards the expenses of the New Zealand team of oarsmen \vhich visited Sydney. Iho Maori Ethnological Research Board'eccived a grant of £350 towards the expenses of publishing a work by Mr T. Lindsay Buick, ‘ New Zealand s First War!’ J Tiie widow of the late Mr C. E. Matthews, Under-Secretary for Justice and Controller of Prisons, has received a compassionate grant of £956. £ooo was appropriated for the expenses of Mr O. J. M'Kenzio, assistant engineer-in-chief, in visiting America, Britain, and Europe in connection with irrigation and railway matters, and a snnil:u* amount for tiie expenses of Mr J. R. Marks, district engineer,_ for visiting America in connection with irrigation matters.