TIGHTER CONTROL.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 90, 17 April 1929, Page 10

TIGHTER CONTROL.

PUBLIC WORKS EXPENDITURE

PREMIER'S PROPOSAX.

IMJKPAIJ ATIOX OF KSTIMATES

(I»y Trl« , f*raph.—Press Association.)

A\ ELLINGTON. Tucslav

Important reforms in the svt-tem of

controlling expenditure on public works wore proposed by the Prim-.* Minister ill

■tddrossjiijr the gathering at the Chamber

of (.'ommerco dinner this evening. Sir •'oseph Ward said the Public Works Department was responsible for ea.rviii" out the hulk of the works under conjunction. and though its construction work was sound and carried < ut in an ollieiont manner, from the point of linancia 1 control the present system was undoubtedly weak.

To obtain greater control over the expenditure of loan moneys ;nid to ensure that results would be sy-teiuatic-ally reviewed from the financial viewpoint. lie had decided to intioduce the following reforms next session: To amend the form of the l'uhlic Works Kstimates by adding three additional columns to show the estimated total eo-t of each work when authorised, the total expenditure on each work to' the end of the last complete financial vear and the estimated amount required to complete the work.

lie also intended that estimates prepared oil those lines should in future he -cut to the Treasury before heiii" linali-ed in order that they mi-ht he investijjated and reviewed hv a depart - inental coin in ittee in the same wav as was done with the Consolidated Fund estimates at present.