THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 904, 25 August 1910, Page 5

THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

POST-AUDIT PROPOSALS. The Public Revenues Bill, which was iutro'duced yesterday, "provides for.the introduction of tho post-audit.system. It is provided that tho Controller and Auditor-General shall, hi order that his examination, - inspection, . and audit ■of the public accounts. may proceed pari passu with the cash transactions of any Department, have, free access at, all convenient times ; to the offices, and to. the books of account and other accounts relating to the accounts of such Department,' and' may require such Department to furnish'him from time to time, or at regular periods, with its accounts of its' cash transactions up to such times or periods.

The Treasiiry. is to keep a cash-book giving details of .'all receipts and payments, or--public moneys. Details shall bo sout day by day to the' Audit Oflice. Other provisions relate to the preparation ol a daily account of paid vouchers, and to the necessity for the Audit OilicD to examine accounts and'vouchers. It is also' provided . that tho Auditor-General may call for accounts and explanations, and conduct the* inspection and audit of books and accounts.' Detailed audit of any account,, but'not with any appropriation audit, may be dispensed with;' *■'.'.- • The Treasury shall as soon as practicable after the end of every linaucial year prepare.and send to .the Audit Oflice a full and particular account in detail of the revenue and expenditure of- the Public Account during that year. . The Auditor-General shall forthwith examine that account; and prepare and sign a report showing the particulars of any discrepancies , between such account and the books of the Treasury, etc. '

At any time the Auditor-General may' offer any suggestions for the better collection and payment of the. public moneys and the irioro effectually and economically, auditing and examining the public accounts and stores, and any improvement in ' the mode of keeping such accounts, and generally'. report upon all matters' relating, to the public accounts, public moneys, and stores. Every person who is guilty of any wilful act of commission or omiusion contrary to any of tho provisions of. this Act for which.no penalty is expressly provided is liable to a fiuo of fifty pounds. Authority is given to the Minister for Finance without further appropriation to pay by way of'temporary advance any sum for the purpose of defraying any* charges incurred by, or on behalf of, any local authority' not exceeding in any financial year an aggregate amount of £1000, and such advances shall be repaid to the Consolidate Fund out of the first moneys accruing to the local authority. The Minister for. Finance is also authorised to. agree with any or all of the banking institutions doing business hi New Zealand for Jjbo purchase on their behalf of silver ifciid bronze coin from the Royal Mint in London, or from any •branch thereof in Australia, to an amount not exceeding one hundred thousand pounds in any one financial year (including the expenses incidental to that purchase), and all moneys so. expended shall bo paid without further appropriation than'this.Act.