THE CORPORATION ACCOUNTS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 145, 16 December 1924, Page 9

THE CORPORATION ACCOUNTS

REPORT OF INTERNAL AUDITOR

" CAREFUL AND EFFICIENT."

"In general," stated the' Corporation's internal - auditor (Mr. B. 0. Peterson), in, a report to the City Council last evening, " I find that the accounting work j of the various departments is being carried on carefully and efficiently. . " Special attention has been paid during the year to the vouching of all receipts and payments through the Treasury, and to. the collection of rental's of Corporation' properties. The rentals outstanding to date are normal, and all doubtful cases have been placed in the hands of the City Solicitor.. : • .-" With,\ regard,to the rentals of the Mangahao endowment, the position is not so satisfactory, there being outstandings over a considerable .period. These outstandings should be dealt with .prior'l to the disposal of the property.' ' RATES DEPARTMENT. ' "There was a reduction in the amount of rates outstanding last year as compared with the previous year, notwithstanding that the total value of rates struck■■".showed a, considerable increase. The' total' value of rates struck for the year 1923-24 was £344,473 an increase of £54,605 over the year 1922-23, whereas the total rates outstanding at 31st March, 1923, was £16 - °i, 6, ?£■' 9<? and at 31sfc Maroh, 1924, oa'v 2l ¥> a decrease of £1867. 18s ■ Ha. By,the end of the current year the outstandings should" be' further reduced. "I desire,to point out that unless arrangements' can be made for the valua-' tion rolls to be forwarded to the department promptly, and for the city estimates to be dealt with early in each financial year (thus permitting the rates' to be levied within £he first few months of the financial period) the department will continue to be placed, at a disadvantage and outstandings at the end of each year will continue; to be greater than would be the case ,were the department ablt to send, out the demands,' in June instead of about August, as is now gener-i ally: the case." •■' .

■ ;-VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. '■ '\ . Mr; Peterson considered' the system of accounting in the tramways and lighting department satisfactory, and that?great care was taken to ensure accuracy in the check on ticket stocks and issues. ;. InTeporting;upon the system followed in the milk department. Mr. Peterson recommended that consideration should be given -before the end of the financial year to the establishment of a depreciation fund m lieu of the present depreciation account; the creation of a special reserve to provide for the over capitalisation'of certain asset accounts1; and the completion of ..purchase of certain lands at present under proclamation Ihe stores and waterworks and drainage departmental systems were also briefly reported upon. • '