Committee of Supply

Mr Speaker: Committee of Supply, what day?

Mr Hart: Now, Sir.

Motion and Schedule considered in Committee of Supply.

[Mr SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Hart: Schedule

The Chairman: The summary commences on page 8.

Head 2-

The sum of $1,170,400 for Head 2 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

Head 3-

Question proposed,

"That the sum of $14,638 for Head 3 stand part of the Schedule."

Mr Marshall: If it please you, Sir, I would like to enquire how many Singapore students there are in the Irish Free State that we are called upon to spend the sum of $4,638 this year on the British Council?

Mr Hart: I am afraid, Sir, I cannot give the Member for Cairnhill the exact information. I can assure him, however, that our contribution is calculated on a pro rata basis on the basis of the number of colonial students in Dublin.

Mr Marshall: Mr Chairman, Sir, I find that completely unsatisfactory. It may well be on a pro rata basis but at the same time it can be completely worthless. If there are 7 colonial students in all and each colony has to pay a seventh part, that is pro rata but I am not paying $4,638 of the colony's money for one student. That is an exaggerated way of putting it, it is true, Sir, but this House is entitled to full information when spending public money. I therefore move, Sir, that this item be adjourned for further consideration at a later date.

The Chairman: The hon. Member is out of order. This item cannot be adjourned.

Mr Hart: I regret very much that I cannot give the Member for Cairnhill the information which he asks. I do not think that it is a matter of very great importance. I feel that he exaggerates the matter. The matter has been considered with great care by the Treasury. In all circumstances, the Treasury before making a recommendation to this Assembly assures itself that the money is to be justifiably spent.

Question put, and agreed to.

The sum of $14,638 for Head 3 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

Head 12-

The sum of $3,830 for Head 12 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

Head 19-

The sum of $80,000 for Head 19 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

Head 22-

The sum of $1,106 for Head 22 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

Head 26-

The sum of $2,690 for Head 26 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

Head 27-

Question proposed,

"That the sum of $117,826 for Head 27 stand part of the Schedule."

Mr Marshall: On a point of information, Sir. I would like to enquire whether the question is being pursued of seeking to recover part of the money that was embezzled by the principal now in prison. The item is No. 370, Sir.

Mr Hart: The matter of recovery from the person responsible for the embezzlement has been gone into and I am satisfied that there is no possibility of recovery.

Question put, and agreed to.

The sum of $117,826 for Head 27 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

Head 38-

The sum of $8,520 for Head 38 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

Head 45-

The sum of $10 for Head 45 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

Head 54-

The sum of $12,650 for Head 54 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

Head 57-

The sum of $90,784 for Head 57 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

Head 62-

The sum of $50,000 for Head 62 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

Head 16-

The sum of $314 for Head 16 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

Head 61-

The sum of $430 for Head 61 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

Head D 48-

The sum of $175,082 for Head D 48 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

The Chairman: Turning to the motion, the Question is,

"That the sum of $1,457,350 stand part of the motion."

Question put, and agreed to.

The sum of $1,457,350 ordered to stand part of the motion.

Mr Hart: Sir, I move,

That the motion and Schedule be reported to the Assembly.

Question put, and agreed to.

Motion and Schedule reported, with out Amendment.

Question,

"That this Assembly resolves that the sum of $1,457,350 shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure and for the services specified in the Schedule contained in Sessional Paper No. Cmd. 60 of 1956," put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Assembly resolves that the sum of $1,457,350 shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure and for the services specified in the Schedule contained in Sessional Paper No. Cmd. 60 of 1956.