FEES TOO HIGH, SAYS BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18406, 7 March 1928, Page 8

FEES TOO HIGH, SAYS BOARD.

AUDIT DEPARTMENT PRESENTS ACCOUNT. Per Press Association. THAMES, March 7. The presentation of an account by the Audit Department against th© Harbour Board for thirteen days’ work at £3 3s daily for auditing the annual balance-sheet was the subject of much unfavourable comment at a meeting of the board. The secretary said that previous audits had taken about nine days. No explanation had been given why extra time was taken on this occasion. One member said that this extra time for audit had been experienced by* other local bodies in the district, who had this to pay for the auditors’ inexperience of the various systems. Tima also was lost by the auditor searching for small errors. There was a howl at the increase in administration expenses, but to this the Audit Department paid no attention. Another member said that £3 3s daily was an exorbitant charge. The board finally resolved that th© Harbour Boards’ Association be written to drawing its attention to the cost of auditing charges, also the time taken by auditors, with a view to asking for a reduction in future.