LAW CHARGES.

ACCOUNT of the Sum Expended, in the Year ended 31 March 1924, compared with the Sum Granted, for the Salaries of the LAW OFFICERS' Department, the Salaries and Expenses of the Departments of His Majesty's PROCURATORGENERAL, and of the SOLICITOR for the Affairs of His Majesty's TREASURY, and of the Department of the DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, for the Costs of PROSECUTIONS, of other LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, and of PARLIAMENTARY AGENCY.

EXPLANATION of the Causes of Variation between Expenditure and Grant.

A.-Fall in bonus (421.). No outside copying was required.

B.-Absence of costly prosecutions during the year.

C. and C.C.-Liable to considerable fluctuation. under :

The expenditure is distributable as

Subhead C.-Treasury, 2,3351. 12s. 8d.; Home Office, 2,9891. 11s.; Admiralty, 13,4211. 10s. 2d. ; War Office, 13,9407.7s. 8d.; Office of Works, 4,1781. 8s. 10d.; Foreign Office, 469/. 13s. 6d. ; Colonial Office, 1,637. 19s. 7d.; Directorate of Lands, 2,5971. 7s. 2d.; Air Ministry, 13,4657. 3s. 11d.; Ministry of Transport, 7717. 17s. 2d.; Ministry of Pensions, 701. 1s. 9d.; Board of Education, 1967. 4s. 6d. ; Chancery, 2,1861. 9s. 1d.; Charity matters, 4561.5s. 10d.; Director of Public Prosecutions, 211. 14s. 2d.; Ministry of Agriculture, 551. 8s. 10d.; Irish Department, 2,0407. 18s. 11d.

Subhead C.C.-Prize Cases, 1,2611. 10s. 6d.; Shipping Liquidation (Board of Trade), 15,9121. 1s. 6d. ; Disposal and Liquidation Commission, 16,5031. 2s. 5d.

E.-Increase in number of prosecutions.

G.-Dependent upon claims from Counties, etc.

EXPLANATION of the Causes of Variation between Expenditure and Grant-contd. H.-Fall in bonus (£2,941). Changes in staff and reduction in payments to Law Stationers for copying (£4,000).

I. Requirements for messengers' clothing less than had been anticipated.
J.-Under-estimated, as cost of services was unknown.

K. This service is estimated for by the Treasury; the payment actually made was (G.257) ;

Re Hackney Marshes (Government Factory site), Acquisition Bill, £22 3s. 7d.

L.-No costly appeals during the year.

M.-These receipts include £12,726 18s. 8d., costs of H.M. Procurator-General in Prize cases. The appropriations in aid vary considerably, being dependent mainly upon the result of

EXPLANATION of the Causes of Variation between Expenditure and Grant-cont.

* Including the costs received in prize cases, £20,111 7s. 1d. was received for services arising out of the War.

C.C.-See under subhead C.

11 November 1924.

Clive Lawrence,

Accounting Officer.

I have examined the above Account in accordance with the provisions of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act, 1921. I have obtained all the information and explanations that I have required, and I certify, as the result of my audit, that in my opinion the above Account is correct.

Malcolm G. Ramsay, Comptroller and Auditor General.

FEES PAID TO THE LAW OFFICERS OF THE CROWN DURING 1923-24.

:

:

:

160

1,020 18

8

11,972 19 10

656 4

5,343 19 2

Clive Lawrence,

Accounting Officer.

MISCELLANEOUS LEGAL EXPENSES.

ACCOUNT of the Sum Expended, in the Year ended 31 March 1924, compared with the Sum Granted, for certain MISCELLANEOUS LEGAL EXPENSES, for the Salaries and Expenses of Arbitrators, &c., under the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act, 1919, for the Salaries and Expenses of the War Compensation Court under the Indemnity Act, 1920; for the payment of COMPENSATION AND LEGAL, &C., EXPENSES under the Restoration of Order in Ireland (Indemnity) Act, 1923, and for a Grant in Aid of the Expenses of the INCORPORATED LAW SOCIETY of England.

EXPLANATION of the Causes of Variation between Expenditure and Grant.

A. The expenditure under this head varies from year to year and cannot be precisely estimated.

B-It is not possible to foresee the number or cost of cases which will arise during the year. The excess is due to the appointment of a shorthand typist during the year.

C.

D. The expenses of the Commission while sitting in Scotland were less than anticipated. The provision has been reduced to £125 for 1924-25.

E.F.G.H.-The expenditure under these subheads is dependent upon the number and duration of wreck inquiries. The provision has been reduced for 1924-25.