VERY LIKE SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19118, 10 July 1930, Page 5

VERY LIKE SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY.

UNEMPLOYMENT DEPOT HAS ELABORATE SYSTEM.

Having a qualified accountant as one of their number, the members of the Organised Unemployed and Relief Workers’ Committee who are responsible for the management of a depot that has been established for some time in Oxford Terrace, have instituted an elaborate system of bookkeeping that would do credit to any mercantile firm. Complete records are kept of everything that comes into the depot, whether money or goods, and also of everything that goes out, the members of the committee declaring that they are determined to keep themselves above suspicion. In response to an invitation to make an inspection of the “ books, accounts and balance-sheets, together with statistical records for relief granted up to June 30,” a “Star” reporter called at the depot yesterday and was afforded every facility for making an examination of the accounts. With ledger, cash book, day book, petty cash book, interim and office receipt books, bank pass book and rough record books, the system appeared to be as complete as could be found in operation in the most up-to-date busi ness office The records that are kept are so elaborate that the office of the committee might be compared with a school of accountancy in which adults are given practical lessons in the intricacies of book-keeping. Every penny that is received in cash, it was explained, is paid into the committee’s account at the Bank oi New Zealand, and no money can lit withdrawn from the bank unless the cheque is signed by two members oi the Finance Committee and endorsed by the treasurer. The money for tb* petty cash account must be withdrawn from the bank in this way, and re ceipts obtained for every penny that is paid out. A number of canvassers are em ployed by the committee to collect subscriptions from the public. Thes*. men are required to give interim re ceipts for all amounts they receive, and within three days official receipts are sent out from the office. The canvassers arc paid a commission of 3s for each £1 they collect. The system of issuing and demanding receipts is carried out very rigorously by the committee. For instance, if the chairman takes a loaf of bread from the depot to his home he must give a receipt for it. This is done, the men stated, in order that there should be nothing coming into the depot and going out again which could not be traced.