AUDIT OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13985, 19 August 1907, Page 2

AUDIT OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

POST AUDIT SYSTEM ADVOCATED.

(From Oim OwnCoihiespondent.) .. .WELLINGTON, August. 18. Sonne interesting remarks on the audit system weie made during Friday night's discussion on the subjeot of the emoluments of tho Chief Customs Export. The Prime Minister, who admitted the need for ail improvement in tho system of audit, made the eoi.fession that Ministers did not know tho individual salaries of all the officers in their departments. tinder the post audit system existing in Canada Ministers had to accept far greater personal responsibility in connection with iheso matters, because the Minister, and the Minister alone, gave authority for a payment 12 months probably before it was audited. He believed it was iho only way to meet the position, so that every person who received a payment or allowance from • the Government would have it recorded by the post audit system, which was the only romedy for the complaints and griovanoos brought forward. His opinion was that the only way to save the continuous friction which arose with a desire to find out everything that went on with the large number of items, small and large, and to ensure satisfaction, was to adopt the post audit system. He had soma time ago prepared a measure adopting the post audit svstem in this country, but it was not an easy thing to do. Mr Massey urged the Prime Minister to set up a strong parliamentary committee next session to inquire into our system of audit, and. if necessary, to get information, from Canada. He did not think that the completion of tho returns undor tho post audit system would take so long as tho Prime Minister anticipated, and he did not sco any reason why they should not bo ready by the end of the September quarter. They should certainly endeavour, in any case, to make such arrangements for something better than tho present "wretched system." >