PUBLIC BALANCE-SHEETS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 120, 6 May 1911, Page 4

PUBLIC BALANCE-SHEETS.

A commendable innovation has been introduced by the Chairman of the Hawke s Bay County Council, says the “Afanawatu Standard, ’ in the way of an annual report and balance-sheet, which differs from most- others in being so comprehensive and intelligible that ' he who runs may read”—and understand. As a general rule ratepayers. with the exception of an I odd one here and there, fight shy ot balance-sheets, and. in fact, rarely attempt to grapple with them. But the Chairman of the Hawke’s Bay County Council. Mr. T. AL Chambers, has prepared a report I which is a model of succinctness and comprehensiveness of detail. Just the information that ratepayers desire to obtain, but which is seldom to be found in the average balancesheet, is given in a manner easy to understand. The average ratepayer stands aghast at the columns of figures marshalled ri militant array j by the treasurers of various local; bodies, and usually gets a very■ hazy idea of the position of his ; Borough or County. Of course a | little knowledge of book-keeping' would give the key to these puzzles, i but that knowledge is usually lack- ; ing, and perhaps if treasurers took i more trouble to explain the details j for the benefit of the uninitiated ' there would be less ignorance on | the part of ratepayers and also a I good deal less suspicion. !