CHECK ON COSTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 640, 17 April 1929, Page 7

CHECK ON COSTS

PUBLIC WORKS FINANCE i NEW SYSTEM OF ESTIMATES Press Associatioti WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Important reforms in the system of controlling expenditure on public works were proposed by the Prime Minister in addressing the gathering at the Chamber of Commerce dinner this evening. Sir Joseph Ward said the Public Works Department was responsible for carrying out the bulk of the works under construction, and though its construction work was sound, and carried out in an efficient manner, from the point of financial control the present system was undoubtedly weak. To obtain greater control over the expenditure of loan moneys, and to ensure that results would be systematically reviewed from the financial viewpoint, he had decided to introduce the following reforms next session; To amend the form of the Public Works estimates by adding three additional columns to show the estimated total cost of each work when authorised: the total expenditure on each work to the end of the last complete financial year; and the estimated amount required to complete the work. He also intended that estimates prepared on those lines should in future be sent to the Treasury before being finalised in order that they might be innvestigated and reviewed by a departmental committee in the same way as was done with the Consolidated Fund estimates at present.