PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21911, 21 September 1934, Page 12

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

CHARGING OF EXCHANGE STRICTER SYSTEM URGED "It is quite obvious that if this sort of looseness is to be allowed in regard to the charging of exchange in the public accounts we shall revert to the old system of keeping public accounts, where it was impossible for even a trained accountant to arrive at any satisfactory conclusions concerning them," stated the executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce in a report on the recent criticism by the Auditor-General. The report was presented at a meeting of the council of the chamber yesterday. The AuditorGeneral had commented that in certain instances the amount of exchange was charged against the ordinary revenue account instead of being properly charged against the account in connection with which the charge was incurred. "It cannot be too strongly insisted upon that the public accounts should not only be above suspicion, but should bo perfectly clear and open, so that the public may be fully informed as to the proper charges and costs of departmental working and, where profits are made, be assumed that thev are not fictitious," the executive's report added. The report, which recommended that the matter should be brought before the Associated Chambers of Commerce, with a view to urging on the Government the need for proper charging of exchange and proper discrimination between sterling and New Zealand currency in all its accounts, was adopted.