INCREASED EXPENSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22963, 19 August 1936, Page 9

INCREASED EXPENSES

HIGH COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE MEMBER SEEKS EXPLANATION (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 18. The reasons for the increase in the expenses of the High Commissioner’s office were sought by Mr J. Hargest (Opposition, Awarua) during the discussion of the Estimates in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr Hargest referred to the tact that the Government was this year making provision for a payment of £43,116 for the upkeep of the High Commissioner’s office, which represented an increase of more than £SOOO over the previous year. Some years ago, he said, 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 concerning an item of £2OO for the services of a veterinary officer. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr 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 in salaries. It had to be realised also that as time went on the work of the office was increasing, and it was obvious that the work could not be done without an adequate staff.