DELAYED AUDITS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6318, 22 February 1922, Page 6

DELAYED AUDITS.

DISCUSSION AT BOROUGH

COUNCIL

GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL FOR GISBORNE , AREA ASKED FOR,

A request for information regarding the delay m having public bodies’ accounts audited was received by the Borough Council at its meeting last night from the Napier Chamber of Commerce. It was stated that the Chamber had been asked to support a request to the Auditor-General, urging the division of the- district now served by tlio audit inspector, whose headquarters are at Napier, and the appointment of an additional inspector in order to overtake the present arrears of work. It was suggested, the letter stated, that in many cases it was several months alter the close of the financial year before the accounts of some local bodies wore audited. Before taking action, however, the Chamber desired to obtain the Council’s view on the matter, and to ascertain whether the congestion of work was so serious as to cause undue inconvenience-to local bodies. A: letter in connection with audit matters was also received from the Otago Hospital Board, the Council being asked to associate itself with the Board in a pretest to the Minister against the increased fees being charged by the Audit Department, tt was pointed cut that the foes of Government auditors was equal to 9s an hour. , Cr. Ball said there was no doubt that there was a considerable amount of delay in getting balance-sheets audited, particularly, he understood, in Napier. At the present time the inspector was accompanied by an assistant on his visits to Gisbcnie, and he -thought that if an auditor was permancntlv established in this district it would not entail any greater expenditure, and he thought there would be sufficient work to keep him fully occupied. It was decided that the request should be supported, and that it should be urged that an auditor should be established in Gisborne. With regard to the question cf expenses, it was explained that the £3 3s a day- fee included travelling allowance and other charges, and it was stated that the Council had previously- decided to take no action in the matter. The letter was received.