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New Zealand Mail, Issue 606, 15 September 1883, Page 19

The proposal of the Ministry to discharge the existing Public Accounts Committee and elect a new one at the beginning of every session, is an obviously wise measure. We have had experience of extravagant financial administration under Sir Julius Vogel, reckless financial management under Sir George Grey, and financial management, foolishly charged with corruption, under Major Atkinson, and the natural result at which thinking people have arrived is, that Parliament will be on tbe safe side if it elects its own Public Accounts Committee every yea l- . That is the opinion of the present Ministry ; and though the Speaker does not think himself obliged to rule that ai a matter of constitutional law and precedent it must be done, he evidently, from a hint thrown out last week, considered it most expedient. If any charge of irregu’a-ity, and, still more, of corruption is made, it is obviously more convenient to have the matter examined at once by a small tribunal of members chosen by the Parliament then sitting for the special purpose of seeing that all moneys voted are duly paid, and all moneys received duly accounted for. A pa; liament could scarcely repudiate the decision of its own select committee, and in disputed money matters a great dial of worse than useless rhetoric in open Parliament would be saved. It is desirable also obviously, as was very properly suggested, that neither members of the Ministry, nor Btrong Oppo.--tion members, should be chosen for the Committee, but moderate men, having some special aptitude for figures and large business atters. That seems to be the course adopted oy the English House of Commons. Another besides those already mentioned, which would be gained by the annual election of a Public Accounts Committee, would be the avoidance of those fooli)h partisan debates on the memoranda which the Controller and Auditor-General seems to think necessary frequently, in order to vindicate the dignity of his office. A reference of all such to the Public Accounts Committee to report upon would save a good deal of time and" trouble in the House of Representatives.