More interest in public sector accounts

Press, 17 May 1984, Page 24

More interest in public sector accounts

There has been a marked improvement in the information being made available to ratepayers since the advent of the Society of Accountants award for local authority accounts, said Mr Stuart Keene, the chairman of the National Public Sector Accounting Committee of the New Zealand Society of Accountants.

The reports generally include comment by the Council on activities as well as management and also the annual accounts in one comprehensive report. In an address to the Canterbury Public Sector Accounting Group of the New Zealand Society of Accountants, Mr Keene commented that the improvements noted have not lead to an increased cost to ratepayers. The reports being submitted were judged upon content and the use of photographs and colour were not necessary. Mr Keene said that there was very little between the top two or

three reports being submitted for judging. They were presenting information in a simple yet easily understood manner including the use of graphs and charts to highlight trends and significant facts.

the Society invites the winning authority to select a painting or other object to a value of $5OO to mark the award. Previous winners

have been Lower Hutt City Council, Waimea County Council, Bay of Plenty Harbour Board; the winner of the award for 1984 will shortly be announced by the society. The award is open to Territorial Local authorities, Regional and United Councils, Electric Power Boards, and Harbour Boards.

Mr Keene said that the judging panel would like to see more entries and, although praising the winners, said the strength of the scheme was that it promoled interest in improving information for ratepayers.