B. —1 [Pt. ll].

Cases in which Provisions of the Law have not been carried out. Electoral Act, 1927. A sum of £500 sterling in respect of expenses of transit to London was paid to Mr. Jordan, now Higli Commissioner for New Zealand, while he was still a member of the Legislature, and as the payment contravened the provisions of the Electoral Act, 1927, the Audit Office was unable to pass the voucher. On an assurance being given by the Acting Prime Minister that legislation validating the payment would be introduced the voucher was passed by the Audit Office. r In connection with the Coronation Celebrations three members ot the House of Representatives and one member of the Legislative Council were appointed to represent New Zealand. Grants of £200 each were approved by Cabinet, and, on the undertaking of the Prime Minister that validating legislation would be provided during the coming session, the payments were passed by the Audit Office. Native Trustee Act, 1930. It was desired to make a payment of £500 from the Native Trustee's Account towards the cost of erection of a Maori meeting-house as a memorial to the late Sir James Carroll, but, as there was no authority to expend the moneys of the account for this purpose, the Audit Office was unable to pass the payment. On receiving an undertaking from the Prime Minister that validating legislation would be introduced, the Audit Office agreed to pass the voucher. Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915. In December, 1936, the Government decided to transfer to the Housing Account administered by the State Advances Corporation certain properties bought in by the Discharged. Soldiers Settlement Account and held as assets by that account. There was no statutory authority by which the transfer of these assets to the Housing Account could be effected, but the Audit Office agreed to the transaction being proceeded with on an assurance being given by the Government that validating legislation would be introduced during the next ensuing session of Parliament. Pensions Act, 1926, and War Pensions Act, 1915. It is provided in the statute governing the payment of Civil pensions and in the regulations prescribed under the War Pensions Act for the payment of war pensions that pensions the due date of which is the Ist day of the month may be paid on the 23rd day of the month preceding the due date of payment. Following upon representations made by the Minister in charge of the Department that payment of pensions be arranged from and including the preceding Friday when the pensionpay day falls on a Sunday, the Audit Office agreed to pass pension warrants paid before the prescribed due date on receiving an assurance from the Minister that the necessary validating legislation would be introduced during the next ensuing session of Parliament. The legislation in respect of Civil pensions is now provided in section 30 of the Pensions Amendment Act, 1936, but amending regulations in respect of war pensions have not, as yet, been prescribed. National Provident Fund Act, 1926. During the year cases occurred where employees of Hospital Boards who were contributors to superannuation schemes under the National Provident Fund took up duty in State institutions, but there is no authority of law under which these employees could continue their membership. As it was desired by the Government that they should be allowed to continue their contributions, the Audit Office agreed to pass 'the relative entries in the accounts of the National Provident Fund on receipt of an assurance from the Government that the necessary legislative authority would be introduced.

VUl