PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 256, 26 September 1935, Page 2

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

CHANGES CRITICISED. Changes in the form of the public accounts are criticised by the Controller and Auditor-General, Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, in his annual report to Parliament. He recalls that in his report for last year lie drew attention to important changes in the form of the public accounts for the year 1933-3-1. Still further changes, he says, have been made in the form of these accounts for the year 1934-35. “As pointed out last year,” says Colonel Campbell, “it is the rule in the United Kingdom that no important alteration should be made in the form of the public accounts or estimates unless such alteration lias been approved by Parliament through the Public Accounts Committee. Frequent alterations in the form of the public accounts are undesirable, as they tend to reduce Parliamentary control, and it is indicated by the highest authorities that the presentation of the accounts in a similar form year by year to enable proper comparisons to be made is of such importance that, even though an alteration may. in itself be thought desirable, it should be made only after the gravest consideration and after the consent of the Public Accounts G'oni,mitteo has been obtained. I therefore again bring this matter under notice in the hope that steps may be taken by Parliament to require that no important alterations in the form of the public accounts or estimates shall be made until such , have been submitted to and approved by the Public Accounts Committee.”