ITEMISED ACCOUNTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22422, 17 November 1934, Page 12

ITEMISED ACCOUNTS

Most people, including, members “of the medical profession, will agree with the observations that were made by the Chief Justice a few days ago when he commented upon the lack of details in a doctor’s account which was put . in as evidence' in a case of a claim for damages for injuries. It seems clearly desirable that the court should be apprised of the items of an account which it ■ is,,asked _tpVmaude ''iij.'the , amount of a..jVdgmeht. "Doctors’ accounts are, it appeal’s, the only ones which the court is asked to pass, without an opportunity of inspecting details of the charges, incurred. ; The Chief Justice’s observations would apply equally to any other claims that are not supported by itemised particulars and might well receive a much wider application than that which he gave to them. Upon the Estimates submitted to, Parliament each year appear votes for the payment of travelling expenses and allowances incurred on visits overseas on departmental or State business. It is not customary to provide pny indication of the details that make up the sums that are stated in round figures in the Estimates, and’ Parliament does not as a rule show any disposition to seek enlightenment. The delicacy of members is possibly due to the fact that any request for information might be regarded as a reflection upon’ the integrity of the person in whose favour the vote is to be made,, and their delicacy is to be respected, but it is impossible for the taxpayers to be wholly satisfied with a system of voting lump sums which do not always, seem to bear any clear relation to the extent of the travelling of the recipients. These sums frequently convey the impression that they are exceedingly generous. Certainly they are generous when they are compared with the amounts which private persons, travelling at their own expense, or on the business of their principals, require for similar visits abroad. It is, of course, desirable that statesmen and public officials who are sent overseas on the business of the country should travel in a manner appropriate to the dignity of their positions, and should be enabled to make an adequate acknowledgment of such official hospitality as may be extended to them. But the appropriation of large sums to cover the expenses of trips, which the ' average citizen could make in perfect comfort at considerably less cost, is apt to excite in the public mind a suspicion that would be allayed if details of the expenditure were furnished.