THE AUDIT DEPARTMENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 27, 26 October 1918, Page 9

THE AUDIT DEPARTMENT

. . 0 "The Auditor-General has not sought exemption for any of-his" officers who .have been called up for service," states the report of the Controller and Auditor. General for the period ending March 31, | 1018, laid on. the table of the House of Representatives yesterday. "The position, however, has now become serious in respect to audit inspectors whose duty it is to audit and report on the accounts of the various local authorities—a duty required by law to be performed at'least once a year. This work canjie done only by officers specially trained for it, and as a matter of fact additional officers of the type required are not now available, being either on military duty or already engaged in special work. It haa now been found necessary to apply for three inspecting officers to the end of the present year, and leave has been granted. The Auditor-General now proposes to leave it to the. Government to decide whether local authority and kindred inspections or military service shall receive preference, and to make provision accordingly." In another portion of his report the Auditor-General says that tho absence of officers through the war haa interfered to some extent with the usual regular examination of ■ several departmental'accounts.