8.—4.

Item, Supply of Publications to Members of the Legislature. 196. This covers the cost of statistical publications which members are entitled to receive free of cost from the Statistician's Office. We recommend that members be charged half the usual price for any publications they desire. Estimated saving, £225. Item, Travelling Alloivances and Expenses. 197. This item is to provide for travelling allowances and expenses of two officers of the Legislature. We recommend that the item be deleted. Estimated saving, £20. 198. For the sake of clarity and convenience, our recommendations in respect of the Legislative Vote are tabulated hereunder: — £ 1. Re-organization of staff —Savings in salaries .. .. .. 6,000 2. Miscellaneous savings already tabulated .. .. .. .. 3,645 3. Charge for recess Library privileges .. .. .. .. 400 4. Hansard- —Reduction in copies .. .. .. .. .. 1,500 5. Bellamy's —Reduction in cost to State .. .. .. 4,000 General Expenses. 6. Passages—Members and wives .. .. .. .. .. 500 7. Postage and telegrams .. .. .. .. .. .. 200 8. Printing of statutes .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,000 9. Railway passes and concessions .... .. .. .. .. 12,800 10. Refund to Post Office for members' telegrams .. .. .. 600 11. Supply of publications .. .. .. .. .. .. 225 12. Travelling-allowances and expenses .. .. .. .. 20 £32,890 VOTE, NAVAL DEFENCE. 199. We have considered the expenditure under this vote, and at the outset would draw attention to the progressive cost of naval defence to New Zealand since the Ist April, 1914, as illustrated by the following statement, from which the payments in respect of the Singapore Base are excluded:— £ £ 1914-15 .. .. •• 65,874 1923-24 .. .. 285,723 1915-16 .. .. ..26,184 1924-25 .. .. 283,356 1916-17 .. .. ..31,775 1925-26 .. .. 441,203 1917-18 .. .. .. 42,002 1926-27 .. .. 527,023 1918-19 .. .. .. 31,952 1927-28 .. .. 486,830 1919-20 .. .. .. 20,075 1928-29 .. .. 463,496 1920-21 .. .. .. 48,692 1929-30 .. .. 437,573 1921-22 .. .. ..303,517 1930-31 .. .. 418,837 1922-23 .. .. ..211,225 1931-32 .. .. 390,000* 200. The basis of New Zealand's contribution towards naval defence has been radically altered, in that, in place of the subsidy previously paid to His Majesty's Government in Great Britain, the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy has now been established. 201. The present agreement with the Admiralty provides for the formation of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy and the Government has undertaken — (а) To maintain a seagoing squadron of two " D " class cruisers. (б) To replace the above cruisers when over age, in 1935 and 1938 respectively, by two " B " class cruisers. Note. —It has now been suggested by the Imperial Government that the replacement cruisers should be " Leander " class instead of " B " class, and this would result in a considerable saving to New Zealand as against the cost of " B " class cruisers, but would exceed the cost of the present " D " class cruisers. (c) To enlarge the Calliope Dock and modernize the equipment of the Naval Base. (d) To provide personnel, stores and equipment for mine-sweeping craft and anti-submarine craft, &c. Note. —Beyond the personnel of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, practically no provision has yet been made to fulfil this responsibility.

* Estimated.

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