PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22738, 26 November 1935, Page 12

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

MR HISLOP'S ALLEGATIONS WRONG IMPRESSION CONVEYED <Per United Press Association) ELTHAM, November 25. Addressing a meeting to-day Mr C. AWilkinson, Independent member for Egmont, referred to Mr T. C. A. Hislop, the Democratic leader's reference to a statement Mr Wilkinson made last week in connection with the public accounts of the country. Mr Wilkinson stated that Mr Hislop's references to the public accounts conveyed an innuendo that there was dishonesty or malpractice in connection with them, and if this were so he wished to say publicly that the Public Accounts Committee, of which he was a member, would never pass the accounts if they were wrong by a single shilling, and all the statements intended to convey the impression that the public accounts were not correct was entirely contrary to fact, and Mr Hislop should be well aware of this. Political propaganda should not be used to throw any doubts upon the honesty or ability of the country's tried and trusted officials who were responsible for the keeping of the public accounts. The Auditor-general merely desired a change in the method of arranging the accounts, nothing else.