COUNCIL ACCOUNTS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1927, Page 10

COUNCIL ACCOUNTS

TOWN BOARD AND BOROUGH

BALANCE-SHEETS

UPPER HUTT FINANCE

TTpper Hutt financial affairs were well in the limelight several months ago when the balance-sheets of the town board and the borough were under review, and- they again aroused heated discussion, at last night's special meeting of the Borough Council.

The two balance-sheets -which wore returned by the Audit Department to be received and accepted at last night's special meeting of the Borough Council were for the now extinct Torsra Board, from Ist April, 1925, to 31st January, 1926, and for the Borough Council, from Ist February, 1926, to 31st March, 1926. The former had four "tags" attached to it, and the latter carried the same "tags" as Nos. 1 and 4 as shown, on the Town Board sheet:. •

The Mayor stated that the Audit Office was not taking any action in the matter. This, presumably, was due to the fact that although tha Town Board's: expenditure exceeded the estimated revenue, it could hardly, have been helped owing to-, the necessity of expending money on such unforeseen items as the Akatarawa watershed, sewerage survey, and the unusually difficult conditions prevailing with /the coming constitution of the new borough.

Councillor Greig: "May I ask, wag there any correspondence between you and the Audit Department?"

The Mayor: "None.',' The. Audit Office had told him it was taking no action in the matter.

Councillor Greig: "But why not write to the council? We're a team, at least that's the way I take it. Why, not have it in writing?" : The Mayor: "We can ask the Audit Office why." ■■■■■-.

The fourth tag on both balancesheets stated that the audit inspection revealed that the accounts had been kept in an altogether unsatisfactory manner. The' bankings had been irregular, the rate book had not been balanced, nor had : the banking been reconciled with the 'cash received. In this connection Mr. M'Curdy «ugge«ted, and it was later agreed, that a committee consisting of himself and Councillors Jameson and Lodge be set op to report to the council. Councillor Greigi."As a past chairman of the board, I think it is peculiar that the Department.did not find fault with the man before.-. There were no complaints before. Is there a different system of bookkeeping or what? The council would like to know." -

The/Mayor: "The committee can go into the matter." ' ' •■''.

Councillor Greig: "And there ha§ never been any correspondence between, the Audit Office and yourself on the matter?" . .

The Mayor: "No." Councillor Greig: "I understand the Town Clerk would like to address tie meeting." , . THE CLERK'S EXPLANATION. Mr. L: F. Grimstone, borough, clerk and clerk of the old town board, said that the reason the audit had taken so long was that the auditor went into everything in detail. He had even, gone to the bank and taken out each pay-in sheet to see that it was in order. Councillor Greig: "Is this a new thing, Mr. Grimstone?" The Mayor: "They are instituting ft much more rigid'system •of auditing." The Clerk: ''The position regarding the books was due to the fact that I was overworked. No matter what anyone may Bay, I am, in my opinion, overworked now."

Councillor Greig: "I ask yon, your Worship, to make a note of that for the Select Committee."

Mr. Grimstone) said that having two waTds in-, the borough more than doubled the accountancy work. He had had 20,000 names to strike.off the electors' rolls for the .Power Board election, and he was working until. 2 in the morning. He had only a, boy. to assist him. The work was more than, one man. could carry out at the present time. He was satisfied that the committee would bear him out when it made its investigations. When the. work was systematised it would be better, but he. wanted a certain amount of consideration from the council, and did not want to be harried.. ' .

. The Mayor said the clerk could have obtained assistance with the, electoral rolls at the Power Board's expense if he had liked, and the council would have given him assistance if he had asked for dt. "However, this committee will report. He'll get a fair hearing from Councillors .Lodge, Jameson, and myself."- /, : . Both balance-sheets were -.then formally received, accepted, and signed, and it was decided to have ( the borough balance-sheet print(|l in order to comply with the requirements of ihe Act. The committee appointed to,report on "tag" No. 4 will submit theoresult of its investigations to the council in. open meeting on 21st February^