THE ADMIRALTY ACCOUNTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3588, 31 March 1886, Page 4

THE ADMIRALTY ACCOUNTS.

Tho Daily News saya :— An announcement' of tho discovery of the further deficienev of £200,000 m tho accounts at tho Admiralty seems to havo created something lilo a panic among tho officials and their late parliamentary chiefs. On leaving oflico Lord George Hamilton made ono last desperate effort to establish the sembhinco of financial control by gathering up the AccountantGeneral, his five assistants, and tho Examiner of Dockyard Accounts, and constituting them, m conjunction witli tho Parliamentary Secretary, a Financial Committee for the control of the finances of the nuvy. This curious dovico proves the financial reforms of tho late Government to bo a failure on their own admission. Wo have reason to believe that Lord Ripon is full,} conscious of this position of affairs, and hi 3 administration of the Admiralty will bo memorable if bo has the courage to select tho most capable financier ho can find m tho business world, and place all the finances of tho navy entirely m his hands. Such a step has been discussed, ia vain at the hands of the Conservative Govern-

nicnt— a fact which gives Lord Ripon an opportunity that- ho is well calculated to make the most of. Tho navy, being tbo greatest spending department of tho btate, ought to bo conducted on business principles, and ought to pay an adequate sum for management, to securo tho stoppage of the past waste and oxtrnvagnnco which have created a just feeling of resentment throughout the country.