TRANSPORT FINANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 293, 11 December 1929, Page 6

TRANSPORT FINANCE

When the deputation from suburban bodies waited on the Transport Board yesterday with a request that it allow an independent examination of its finances to be made, it was met by the production of a letter from the Audit Department, in which it was stated that the inspection of the Board's accounts was "n complete audit conducted in accordance with the principles laid down by recognised authorities on auditing," and, further, that it was the Department's aim to make publiclyowned trading concerns conform to the style of accounting followed in private business. We may point out that while the Transport Commission's report Avas almost entirely favourable to the financial direction of our municipal transport, the Commission was satisfied '"'that' the apportionment of the revenue from concession and commutation tickets between trams and buses up to date cannot be accepted as approximately accurate.'' This has been remembered by the public, but apparently, judging from the terms of the Audit Department's report, this "genuiue ground" for suspicion and mistrust (the words are the Transport Commission's) has been removed. But though the request for an independent investigation is irregular, Ave are not prepared to say that it should be refused. Members of the investigating committee might be able to suggest improvements in policy or administration. I£ the Board was sustained in all its doings public confidence would be strengthened, and it needs strengthening. If improvements were suggested, the inquiry would be justified in another way.