AUDIT OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21631, 15 November 1935, Page 14

AUDIT OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

-I j MR HAMILTON AND MR ! ARMSTRONG >l j LABOL'K MEMBER'S REPLY Speaking at. Green Island on Monday, Mr H. T. Armstrong, Iho Labour ; member lor Chrislehureh East, erili- : ciscd the Government for what hi: j : termed Us •'peculiar method of book- . keeping.'' On the following evening, 5 at Pleasant Point, the Post.master-Geu- ; oral, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, rcferI ring to tliis comment, said that it was i Mr Armstronu's duty to draw attention to anything which he. considered wi'uiil;, but asked why ho did not do , Su when (he accounts were under dis- . eussion in ihe House. To this Mr ArmI sirring replied in a speech aI, the East ■' Christehurch School last niahl. 1 The statement made by Mr Arm- j ; strong at Green Island was us l'ol- ! lows:-- ! "The present Government had. a pc- ' ; culiar method of book-koepiim; yon ■ have to be in Parliament to undt-r- ---, stand it. but. if a town clerk or com- , pany secretary did the thinus which. . the Government did, he would very soon linrl. himself in Ihe- •cooler.' l'i: i .jt'act. if it had not boeii election vear, - j Ihe budyel would not have shown a ; I 'j SUi'plu.-; bill they seemed io be able'; ! to put lb; u re.-, on whichever fide of; 'i I lie leii-'.er luev pleased." j j "Mr Maindt.-u ask-- why 1 did not i juraw attention to bus ivheu the ac-I •count.- were uudei 1 discission in the i j House." said Mr Arm.-tronu last uh'hl.i 'I ".My re|dy i> llial il Mr liamillon will] I look ui) ii!\- buih.;ei -ne-sch in tlu.> ' dye,..:'.-, ilau-arrl No. ,1. pay.- titf.i io lit)! ' i he v. il! see ::>:..) I ,[ie' draw attention | I moiled-- of lieek-kcepil'L-. ai;.i said lhat. , I if an hor.es; bu<iyH wi re prn<i,.ced we ' | would shiiw a very !ar:;e deiiil l.ial- ! ; ai.cr, ill.-I ■. ad of ,-, -ur|ihi:-. and many j i other m.-mbt rs spoke 111 [he .-aine j j strain i j I \'••; -_v Lilth- Notice Taken" ! i "Mr Hamdtoii a!:-.,, ..aid lhat ihe ac- i ; i-uiinU are aedded aii(i thai ihe eon- ' i trolh-r ami Audit.>r-( h-ncra! would j :\ery quickly rrnur! Io Pai-iiament if! ] lie diM-overed any inanipin.il ion in! I Government trainee. I ouiie aetv,- i j thai the Auditor-General 'idi.s report ! lln Parliament any mam i.-uia l ions' or ; | irreimlari'.ies. but uuforiunalclv for; |i\ew Zealand the Go\ ermuei ii' dikes! j vil'.v lillle noiire of him j I "Tiie Aiifiitor-General dw.w the Gov- j i ■■.Turnout's alt. :i I ion io ahockiiii.; irreim- j j larities. in iiU|)iilaliun ; -. and maladiiiiiii- ' jslration ill Ihe Native Affairs Depart- I i men; for three years or more before I ! the Govoi umeut w.ail.l a. I. and only j j then if appoint, d a Go-:;; -.e.smn of Kn- | j quuy when il could no lore; r .-mother j j up ihe rotten hus'nos.-; aw! when 111..- I j report came down il made a scant-: 'goal of [he Native Minister, when it! i was as much to hiamo its In-. ! ; •'Will Mr Hambt. n say that conlts- I icatina reserve fuudr lieloni.-ine to! ,:-pecial accounts amounting to millions! | and ,:;r;ibbim; ,L ."><)<).<;(K) a year Imm thej i highways iniid, for ihe purpu e oi. tin I ! Consolidated fund, i; an hone-'t way! ;of balanohi.-; a 1n.b.'...-:'.'" asked Mr i I Armstrom;. "I repeat lh::l if a (.two 1 j clerk or a eompar.v secretary hi,d dune j i this he would lintl him.a If btuiro ai |jud;,'i: j I Ki'dtii'tioi) i>f I'tn-iini:, j -Mr Ha.'mlion v ,!l p. rasp, lemcn- , , ber liiid wnen it rcducid the jn. usioii . ! lot old people, Widow-, .md nruhsiis, i l a-; ] Govt-rnment dated 'la- ivim-i.,, ...- haci; j about 1(1 week ■ funher than lue law allow,-ti il 10, takim; Irom I ~- iiei:sio, : . | el's about !;-Jc,!i(M mere than ;; Pan ■ I a le ;al i nm: io. Too Gim'.i-nh. i- ;mii ; | Audit,r-Clea.-ral. in hi-- n no; ; to Par- | iiiiiitir.l dre.v ,r;u.:.. n !o lie- iile;,al ; j act ~[- p ; e Gt:vi'i'i:;i-,i-i!i, hut w hat. |-,0-! ! tic: did the G< .\-eri ma.-ni take of ihe ! : Auditor-General's report'.' i; simply; j put a clau-e in ihe Finance Hill a -;ai- j | ising its iller.al ac!, and lilciiinf: from j j the iioor pen.doners an additional i | U 211.000. We I'.leaded with the Gov- | [cmmcM-. b> pay the mouev lo the pen-j isionei-s a-; a Chri ; ma.',-bi»;, out it wait i 100 c;i]]<mis to 'wed our appeal. ' j "It )-; a weil-ka ~.vi, tact that almost lovc-i-y time the Public Aecoinds Cf.inj ioift.ee meets, tiie Goptroher and AuI <"iit(ir-G<-.Mei-a! nraws altielioii to ii-- ! reuulari'ies in puohc accam:*. but ihe ! Govi mm, ill take.-. Id lb u-m,-.," -aifl I Mi- Arm.-in.m> hi et ndi,-. ' "On. i could quo:;- seor. s and .-tore-' of ea-a .■ \ whore clauses are i-wnl in liiumce | and other bills vahdidim; acts of the ] Government, which have not been in j acco: ciai.ee with law. Hut tin's will' j perhap: be enourh Io -o op with for j the lime beiiiu'. II Air naedbon want.- i I more, I will snjjply lliem." j | CHKISTCHUKCH NORTH i I i Mr D. F. Uennelty addressed a lan.;e meet hip; ril: electors of (Miristchurc'ii North last niidU in the Memorial Hall. Papanui. The chtiii- was taken by Mr V,'. J. Hoyce. The candidate received an .attentive heariiiK tuiri was f'reqtientl.y aiiplatided. At Ihe conclusion of the moelm/; he ]-er-ci\'cd n voto of thanks and eonlidence. Mi- K. M Macfarkme, J.aiioi.n- can- ' dirlale. continued his campaign Ja.d. c'.cnin.L;, when lie addressed a meeiin;.; : at the cortiei- of Vtcloria. street and Monti-c.-d .-;treel. Mr G. Hepburn presided over an attendance of about 20!) electors. The candidal*: was accorded ' a vote of thanks and. confidence. CHRISTCHURCIf SOUTH Mr F. C. Evans, Democratic eandi- : dab: for Christehurch South, addressed a meeting of oleclors at. Ihe Methodist , Church Hall, Colombo sireel, hist, iniu'ht. Mr Williams presided over an , attendance of 70. At the conclusion of the meet inc. the candidate was ac- : corded a unanimous vote of thanks. ! ■ Mr T. Alilliken, the Ts'ational en ndidale, tiddiessed a meelinr, of 70 electors, in Ihe Somei'held School, Somertield sti-eet, at 8 o'clock last, evening. Mr , J. Carter was chairman. Alter his j address the. candidate was accorded a , vote of thanks and confidence.