FORCES' ACCOUNTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25300, 6 September 1945, Page 6

FORCES' ACCOUNTS

EEVIEW OF POSITION

AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT S.H.) WELLINGTON. Wednesday < Substantial losses of all types ot tores belonging to the Third Division, larticularly compasses, binoculars, catches, pistols, Tommy guns and enmgineering tools, occurred when they vere i" transit between New Caledonia md New Zealand, according to the uinual report of the Controller and Auditor-General for the year ended March 31, which was tabled in the House of Representatives today. The report reviews the stores .and jquipment held by the three services. As a result of the time and labour being expended by the Army authorities in endeavouring to retrieve clothing and equipment from discharged soldiers, it has been agreed that no action will be taken to recover where the outstanding articles are of a less total value than 10s, or are of use tor military purposes only. Tins decision was made, as the cost was proving greater than the value of the recoveries. Main Army Ordnance Depot The report adds that inspectors of the Audit Department have been engaged mostly in clearing the accounts of disbanded units. ' As the personnel have been discharged or are overseas difficulty is being experienced m getting full information. In view ot the cost and the unprofitable use ot manpower, consideration is being given to the question of allowing the accounts to stand uncleared. "Referring particularly to the main Army Ordnance Depot, the chief point of criticism in my last' report was that the stocktaking which was to serve as a starting oft' point for stock control was proceeding too slowly," states the report. "Since then, the Army has taken steps to speed up the work and, having been permitted to make adjustments of ledger balances to bring them into agreement with stocks in hand, it I now rests with the Army to see that the accounts do not again lapse into their former unreliable state." Cost of a Fiji Airfield An interesting item in the report is the revelation that the Nandi airfield, Fiji, constructed by the Works Department in 1941-4*2 on behalf of the United States, cost £1,212,341. Of this sum £586.538 has been paid, but claim for payment of the balance involves questions of policy and has been postponed. Dealing with the stores of the R.N.Z.A.F. the report states that last vear the auditor-general had said that if the rate of improvement continued it would he possible for him to report this year that the accounts were satis-] factory. Unfortunately lie was unable to do so as the accounts at some stations are still not up to the desired standard. The main weaknesses lie in stores in use \ and not so much stocks held in store, i Stocks o 1 Black Ties ' "One Air Force depot is reported as having 20.000 blankets available for disposal," states the report. It also refers to the failure of No. 2 depot to cancel outstanding orders on manufacturers for articles of clothing when the quantities held in store were already sufficient to satisfy Air Force requirements for some years ahead. It' quotes the example of black ties. There were 31.942 in stock, the issues last year approximated 6100. but there were still 22.000 to he delivered. Referring to the Navy it is stated that the accounts at the naval base have been the subject of adverse reports for the past two or three years. The position has improved, but much still remains to be done. The disposal of stocks by the War Assets Realisation Board had not been as rapid as had been wished for owing to the serious handicap of want of staff. Up to the present the Ministry of Supply had acted for the board in the sale of motor transport parts and accessories and in accordance with Government policy all sales had been to the five importing and distributing companies. At the present rate of disposal it would be some years before a complete clearance was effected.