THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 304, 21 November 1935, Page 9

THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

MR HISLOP’S FURTHER REFERENCE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 21. Replying to the Ministerial criticisms of his references to the Public Accounts, Mr T. C. A. Hislop (leader of the Democrat Party) stated that all three Ministers who had attempted to rush into the breach had quoted the report which came from the committee of Parliamentary members, known as the Public Accounts Committee in 1933. That the AuditorGeneral , was not satisfied with the affairs generally, and the ideas of the committee, was shown by the fact that he addressed several memoranda to the committee in the following year and draw the attention of Parliament to his action “in the hope that consideration may be given to the anomalies which appear to exist.” The committee’s report was issued in 1933 and it stated, inter alia, that “we are of the opinion that the Public Accounts represent the true and correct position of the financial administration of the Dominion.” Only one year later the Native Inquiry Commission revealed the irregularities that had been taking place for some years. What reliance could the people place on the opinion of the Public Accounts Committee, which probably in reality had not the faintest idea of what was actually going on, as would apply to the other matters which were raised in the reports of the Auditor-General and to which he had referred? “The whole of the Public Accounts need immediate investigation, and in the public interest it should be put in the hands of a responsible and competent administration,” Mr Hislop added.