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8.--4 A

1932. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIONAL EXPENDITURE COMMISSION (FINAL REPORT OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

COMMISSION TO INQUIRE AND REPORT AS TO THE POSSIBILITIES OP EFFECTING REDUCTIONS IN THE NATIONAL EXPENDITURE.

Bledisloe, Governor-General. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to George Shirtcliffe, Esquire, 0.8. E., of Wellington; James Begg, Esquire, of Dunedin; Colonel James Jacob Esson, C.M.G., of Wellington; John Leslie Griffin, Esquire, of Wellington; Alexander Macintosh, Esquire, of Wellington : Greeting. Whereas it is desirable in the public interest that the public expenditure should be reviewed, having regard to the general financial position of the Dominion: Now, therefore, I, Charles, Baron Bledisloe, the Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, and of all other powers and authorities enabling me in this behalf, and acting by and with the consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby constitute and appoint you, the said George Shirtcliffe, James Begg, James Jacob Esson, John Leslie Griffin, and Alexander Macintosh, to be a Commission to review and report on the public expenditure in all its aspects, to indicate the economies that might be effected if particular policies were either adopted, abandoned, or modified, and generally to make recommendations to the Government for effecting forthwith all possible reductions in public expenditure, having regard especially to the present and prospective position of the public revenues : And with the like advice and consent I do further appoint you George Shirtcliffe to be Chairman of the said Commission : And for the better enabling you, the said Commission, to carry these presents into effect, you are hereby authorized and empowered to make and conduct any inquiry under these presents at such places as you may deem advisable and at such times as you may deem expedient, with power to adjourn from time to time and from place to place as you think fit, and to call before you and examine on oath or otherwise, as may be allowed, by law, such person or persons as you think capable of affording information in the premises ; and you are also empowered to call for and examine all such books or records as you deem likely to afford you the fullest information on the subject-matter of the inquiry hereby directed to be made, and to inquire of and concerning the premises by all lawful means whatsoever : And, using all diligence, you are required to submit an interim report to me under your hands and seals not later than the first day of March, and a final report not later than the first day of May, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-two, of your opinion as to the aforesaid matters :