The Dominion. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1912. NEW ZEALAND FINANCES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1502, 26 July 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1912. NEW ZEALAND FINANCES.

_ The announcement recently published that the Minister for Finance has been able to make satisfactory financial arrangements for soma time to come in connection with the conduct of the country's affairs would seem to indicate that Mr. Allen has applied himself to his new duties with that industry and grasp of financial questions which mado him so searching a critic when in Opposition. When Parliament resumes, next week we shall probably be niore fully informed as to the nature of the arrangements made and also as to the financial position generally. In some respects it is regrettable that Me. Massev •did not obtain a longer adjournment of the House than that decided on. His. predecessors in office had allowed a heavy accumulation of Departmental business to pile up while they spent their time rushing around the country electioneering, and the new Government has bean forced to spend a good deal of its time clearing away these arrears. This probably, has interfered to some extent with the full investigation of administrative, matters so desirable after the long term of office enjoyed by the Continuous Ministry and may also have hindered the pressing. forward of some of the legislative proposals whicl the Government has in hand. Even so it is very satisfactory to finl matters so well forward as is indicated by the recent speech of th; Prime Minister and by , Mr. Allen on Tuesday last. One of the questions calling for the attention of the Minister for Finance is a simplification of the system of presenting the public accounts to Parliamont and the cou.ntry. There is no good reason why the whole position of the country's finances should not be clearly and fully shown in a simple form; and every item of expenditure disclosed. When in Opposition the Reform party was vary insistent in urging the necessity foV this, and now that it has been afforded the opportunity ib will bo expected to put into practice whan it has ao long preached. It miy be .worth the consideration of the

Government whether ib should no< endeavour to secure the services oi f° m ° fully qualified person outside the Public Service to thoroughly in' vestigate the present system of hccounts with a view to simplification. Probably the Public Service Commission will make recommendations on this point, but should il tail to put forward any definite proposals, it might be possible for the Government to obtain the advice and assistance of the late Controller and Auditor-General, Mn. whose success in connection with tho introduction of a new system of accounts into the Pom Department will be recalled by rnany of the older members oi ravliament. Tho Reform party ln< advocated amongst, other things thai JNew Zealand should follow the Canadian practice of laying before parliament each year particulars of every item of expenditure during thpreceding 12 months. This, w<? assume, will now be put into effect It is a sound and s proper course of procedure. Every taxpayer-ami we all pay taxes in one form or an 6thor~is entitled to the fullest in formation as to how his money is bang spent, and if the present or any other Government is aware that the opportunity exists for examining all expenditure in detail there is a much better- chance of care 'beinu exercised in the spending of the money entrusted to ' their ohariM than would be the case if the. details were hidden away in a lumrysu"! under a general heading. The Continuous Ministry would never have to squander public funds ss it certainly did, had it known that if; would have to account at the end of each financial year for the 'ull details of the money it spent. When he brings down his Financial Statement next month, Me. Allen will we trust,' make it clear that at the earliest possible moment the new Government proposes to give effect to the financial reforms which haw been so long advocated and which are so urgently required.