B. —1 [Pt. ll].

Housing Act, 1919. Immediate possession of certain land was required to enable the Public Works Department to proceed with, the construction of a sewer in connection with one of the housing schemes, and it was found necessary to arrange settlements with two of the tenants of such land for the loss of their crops growing thereon. The settlement provided for the payment of compensation amounting to £235 in one case, and £120 in the other. In another instance the sum of £14 12s. was paid as compensation to the owner of a property of which a small portion was entered upon and formed into a street. There was no authority for these payments to be made, and in each case the expenditure was passed in anticipation of the necessary statutory authority being provided. The legislation appears in the Housing Amendment Act, 1940, sections 3 and 13. Housing Amendment Act, 1940. Section 11 of the Housing Amendment Act, 1940, declared the State Advances. Corporation to be the agent of the Crown and entitled to all the privileges which the Crown enjoys. This section brought the Housing Construction Branch of the Corporation within the provisions of section 78 (7) of the Harbours Act, 1923, which exempts the Crown from payment of wharfage dues. The Government did not wish, to avoid liability for wharfage dues on goods the property of the Housing Construction Branch, and in order to enable the Audit Office to pass payment for such dues the Prime Minister instructed that draft enabling legislation be prepared for submission to Parliament. Cost-of-iiving Bonus to Public Servants. In October, 1940, the Government decided to pay a cost-of-living bonus to public servants. There was no appropriation under which such payment could be made, but the Audit Office agreed to pass the relative vouchers on an assurance being given by the Prime Minister that validating legislation would be introduced. The legislation was enacted in section 6, Finance Act (No. 3), 1940. Civil List Act, 1920. Under the Civil List Act, 1920, members of Parliament are entitled to be paid travelling-expenses in respect only of their journeys to the opening of Parliament and to their homes when the session has ended, and such payments cannot lawfully be made after six months from the date when they became payable. The second session of the twenty-sixth Parliament extended over a period of more than six months, and as members, following the usual practice, rendered their claims at the end of the session for expenses incurred in attending the opening of Parliament, such claims were not rendered within the statutory period of six months and could not therefore lawfully be paid. The Prime Minister assured the Audit Office that appropriate legislation would be introduced, and the relative claims were passed accordingly. New Zealand Centennial Act, 1938. The New Zealand Centennial Act, 1938, section 19, authorized a subsidy on moneys actually raised for the purpose of establishing memorials. The Government desired to pay conditionally certain subsidies in anticipation of the actual raising of the necessary moneys, and the Audit Office agreed to this procedure upon receiving an undertaking that suitable legislation, would be introduced.

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