£2l TOLL CALL OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Grey River Argus, 4 September 1948, Page 3

£2l TOLL CALL OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Mr. Semple Explains P.A. WELLINGTON, Sept. 3 “A false impression seems to have been created by a paragraph in the annual report of the Controller and Auditor-General, commenting on a toll account incurred for £21,” said the Minister of Works, the Hon. R. sempie to-day. ‘‘The account, which was incurred in April, 1947, arose from the necessity foY the Commissioner of Works to discuss urgently with the District Commisioner of Works, at Auckland, certain major engine’ermg projects in that area. The Post and Telegraph Department advised that there would be a considerable' delay on the ordinary toll, and the call was made urgent. It should also be pointed out that the telephone discussion obviated the necessity for the Commissioner of Works making a special visit to Auckland, and spending several days there. The public should be aware that-the Controller and Auditor-General’s report of the expenditure of £3BO by the Ministry of Works, for one month, omitted to state that the figure . included an over-payment of £283 which was duly refunded."