Red Tape.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 95, 28 March 1885, Page 6

Red Tape.

Another glaring instance of red-tapeism has come to light, fi local warehouse supplied goods tojjthe value of 12s to the Railway Departmont. Tho customaryduplicate invoices were sent to Wellington, and the documents, which were returned, required to be counter-signed by an official of the Department. The railway office is a pretty considerable distance from town, ana the manager of the warehouse in question sent his clerk for the cheque. The clerk presently returned with the information that tho manager must go himself for the future, his signature being required for the receipt. So much trouble for the recovery of a paltry twelve shillings would scarcely appear necessary, but as a matter of fact the invoice, when received, showed that it had passed through no less than 14 hands in Wellington, all these officials being required to check, endorse, and record the vast expendituro of twelve shillings. It does appear strange that the head of the local department bhould not have power to authorise payment of a few shillings without such a display of red-tapeism. Sir Julius Vogellast session promised to make a radical change in the cumbrous system of audit pursued in Wellington, butfrcm the illustratin quoted, he appears, as yet, to have made small progress in the work of reform. A telegram received from our Wellington correspondent this afternoon, however, records that the work has at last begun in earnest. i