H.—4l.

1898. NEW ZEALAND.

LEGISLATIVE EXPENSES (RETURN OF).

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated the 12th July, 1898. Ordered, " That there be laid before this House a Return showing what is the average cost per day of the sitting of Parliament in respect of messengers, lighting, and all other services and items of cost the amount of which depends on the duration of the session, arid including any fixed expenses, such as the honorarium of members, statutory, annual, or sessional payment of officers of either House."—(Mr. Massey.)

B'etubn showing Average Cost per Day of the Sitting of Parliament in respect of the Items of Cost the Amount of which depends upon the Duration of the Session, and including Fixed Expenses. £ s. d. £ s. d. Legislative Council: — Messengers ... ... ... ... ... 240 Other services, depending on length of session... ... 114 0 Fixed expenses, including statutory, annual, cr sessional payments of officers, and payment of members ... 25 1 8 28 19 8 House of Representatives : — Extra clerks ... ... ... ... ... 8 10 0 Extra messengers ... ... ... ... ... 11 14 8 Charwomen ... ... ... ... ... 2 18 8 23 3 4 General: — Fuel ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 10 0 t Gas ... ... ... ... ... ...' 016 8 Electric light ... ... ... ... ... 613 0 Police (wages and victualling) ... ... .. 140 Washing .... 0 8 8 Other services, dependent on the length of the session ... 2 8 0 Fixed expenses, including statutory, annual, or sessional payment of officers, Hansard staff, Library officials, and payment of members; also travelling-expenses of members ... ... ... ... ... 70 0 0 ■ 106 3 8 . £135 3 4 Note.—The average cost of printing Hansard is about £48 11s. per sitting-day (not included above)Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,325 copies), 18s.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB'JB. Price 3d.-]