THE SPECIAL INQUIRY.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 23, 20 March 1924, Page 2

THE SPECIAL INQUIRY.

PUTARURU RIDING MATTERS. Close of the Matter. In the closing stages of last Friday’s meeting of the Matamata County Council, Cr. E. J. Darby (Putaruru riding) read final letters relating to the matters for which he had asked the Audit Department’s special attention in auditing* the county accounts for the financial year ended March 31, 1923. The first letter was from Cr. Darby to the Audit Department, as follows: 44 With reference to my action in bringing before your Department certain matters in connection with a contractor in my riding, and in connection with the manner of spending during the last few years the National Endowment thirds, I shall be pleased if your Department can give an expression of opinion as to whether you consider the particulars brought under the notice of your inspector were of sufficient importance to justify the action which I took in the matter. 1 here intimate, that I am taking no action further in the matter, excepting through my Council.—E. J. Darby, representative Putaruru riding, Matamata county.” The second letter was the Audit Department’s reply, as follows: 44 With reference to your letter of February 28, I have to state that in the opinion of the Audit Office the inspector’s report on the expenditure criticised by you affords ample evidence of justification on your part, as a matter of duty, for raising the issues involved. J. H. Fowler, Deputy Controller and Auditor-General.” In a letter received by the Council on the matter the Audit Department stated that no special audit of the Council’s accounts had been made, but the inspector had been instructed to report on certain issues raised by Cr. Darby with regard to allocating to the carrying out of contracts and to sundry matters of more or less administrative procedure. No occasion for audit action was proved, but there was evidences -of looseness of methods. Cr. C. A. Stopford said that although the contractor mentioned had been allowed to use county plant on private work without payment, the same man had also allowed the Council the use of his horses and plant free at times. The chairman moved that the matter close, and the motion was carried unanimously.