AUDITOR – GENERAL'S TAG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18887, 9 December 1924, Page 13

AUDITOR - GENERAL'S TAG.

UNAUTHORISED EXPENDITURE

SCHOOL BOARD IN ARMS.

[by TELEGKAPII. —OWN COBHESPOKJENT. ]

CHBISTCHURCH. Mo-iday.

The -General has classified an expenditure of £42 2s by the Board of Governors of the Christchurch Technical College on the industrial exhibition held in Christchurch last year as unauthorised expenditure, and has demanded that, the sum shall bo repaid by the members of the board.' The Finance ' Committeo reported to' the board that in view of the encouragement" given to the schools by the Minister for Education and the Education Department to prepare displays for exhibitions, the Minister should be asked to give his support. In connection with the Auditor-General's demand the committee recommended that if the AuditorGeneral proceeds with his demand the point should !" contested in the Magistrate's Court.

" It is time '.hat some local body took a stand against the way in which the Auditor-General is surcharging members of local bodies all over the country," said Mr. E. 11. Andrews, when the committers report was read. " Men are being driven off local bodies by this pinpricking. The Government asked us to exhibit at these exhibitions, especially at Wembly. The exhibits are very valuable to the public. Local bodies should kick, and kick vigorously. The public should know how the men who are giving their time, and sometimes their money, to public life are being treated. The Canterbury Education Board actually was surcharged £5 for bringing children from tho C/hathams to Christchurch, a, very valuable educational scheme."

Mr. W. R. Gahagan said that ho knew of many men who bad withdrawn from local bodies on account of the AuditorGeneral's actions.

The Finance Committee's report v.-a 3 adopted.