THE AUDITOR-GENERAL.

Hastings Standard, Issue 91, 11 August 1896, Page 2

THE AUDITOR-GENERAL.

The vacancy caused by the death of Mr J. E. Fitzgerald seems to give the Government, as it well might, much trouble in filling. The Auditor and Controller-General must be a man of the highest qualifications, and specially adapted for the important work demanded of him. It is not a position that should be filled for political considerations, nor do we think that Mr Seddon will so treat the matter. It is one of the great gifts in the hands of the Government, and we believe it will be bestowed upon a fitting person. Several names have been mentioned, among the number being Mr J. K. Warburton, the present Public Trustee and Superintendent of the Advances to Settlers Office. We should like to see Mr Warburton appointed, as he is singularly "fitted for the position. He has proved himself a first-class administrator, a capable organiser, a critically just public officer, whose record will bear the closest scrutiny. His exceptional abilities have been exhibited in connection with the Public Trust Office, which, from being a discredited institution, is now justly treated to the confidence of the people. Mr Warburton would gain nothing in pocket by the change, as his present salary is the same as that given to the Auditor-General. The gain would be to the Audit Office, which urgently needs to be reorganised and brought into line with our more modern institutions. Mr Warburton is best of all the civil servants to reorganise this department, and we hope he will be selected by the Government for the position. »