EXPENDITURE UPON MAINTENANCE OF EACH DEPARTMENT OF THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE TWO HALF-YEARS OF THE YEAR 1887-88 (RETURN SHOWING).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1888 Session I, B-15a

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1888. NEW ZEALAND.

EXPENDITURE UPON MAINTENANCE OF EACH DEPARTMENT OF THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE TWO HALF-YEARS OF THE YEAR 1887-88 (RETURN SHOWING).

Return to an Order of the Souse of Representatives, dated Hist June, 1888. Ordered, "That the several amounts of departmental and other expenditure for the year ending 31st March, 1888, contained in Paper 8.-53 (printed number 8.-15), as laid before the House, be amended in a further return, so as to distinguish between expenditure for the six months ending the 30th September, 1887, and the expenditure for the six months ending the 31st March, 1888." —(Mr. Walkeb.)

RETURN showing Expenditure of Salary and Allowances to the Governor and Maintenance of Government Houses, Salaries of Cabinet Ministers, Travelling and other Expenses of such Ministers, maintaining the Ministerial Residences, the Legislative Council, the House of Representatives, and each Department of the Colonial Government of New Zealand, chargeable on the Ordinary Revenue of the Colony, for the Six Months ended 30th September, 1887, and Six Months ended 31st March, 1888.

Expenditure for Half-year ended— Total for Year. 80th September, 1887. 31st March, 1888. 1.—The Governor, — Salary Establishment Government Houses and grounds £ 2,500 1,250 1,361 £ 2,500 1,250 879 £ 5,000 2,500 2,240 Totals 5,111 4,629 9,740 2. —Ministers, — Salaries Travelling allowance and expenses House allowances 4,625 764 225 601 2,908 754 392 225 7,533 1,518 617 820 Totals 6,215 4,279 10,494 3.—The Legislature,— Salaries, including extra clerks and messengers, — Legislative Council House of Representatives Honorarium General expenses 1,437 2,643 24,598 4,914 1,443 3,244 11,031 5,881 2,880 5.887 36,229 10,795 Totals 33,592 22,199 55,791 4.—Departments. Under the control of the— Colonial Secretary Colonial Treasurer Minister of Justice Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Telegraphs .. Commissioner of Customs Commissioner of Stamps Minister of Education Minister of Native Affairs Minister of Mines Minister for Public Works Minister of Defence 71,985 16,321 58,016 136,328 36,403 11,315 186,638 8,636 10,252 321,307 71,778 79,854 18,810 56,592 131,955 32,814 13,681 182,160 8,166 10,378 401,692 138,221 151,839 35,131 114,008 268,283 69,217 24,996 368,798 10,802 20,C30 722,999 209,999 Totals 928,979 1,074,323 2,003,302 Grand Totals 973.897 1,105,430 2,079,327 Note.—A sum of £3,292 was inadvertently emitted from ! 3.-15 for general jxpenses of the Leg ;islatuer.

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MSMOBAHDUM. Referring to the apparent excessive expenditure for the half-year ended 31st March, 1888, namely, £1,105,430, as against £973,897 expended the first half-year ended 30th September, 1887, I may remark generally that the last half of the financial year has always more expenditure charged and revenue brought into account than the first half, owing to the effort made at the end of the year to pay off outstanding accounts as closely as possible, while, on the other hand, the revenue is brought to account by telegraph on the last day of the year. In the special cases under the head of " Minister for Public Works " and " Minister of Defence " the expenditure for the first half-year represented only five months' payments, while the second half contained seven months' expenditure, increased, in the case of the defence vote, by payment of the whole of the capitation allowances, £18,000, and some £10,000 for arms and ammunition (ordered from England during previous year) in excess of the amount paid during tho first half of the year. Jas. B. Heywood, The Treasury, 10th July, 1888. Accountant to the Treasury.

[Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, vi ; printing (1,375 copies), £1 is. 6d.]

Authority: Geobge Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBB.