The Wairarapa Daily WEDNESDAY, JULY 81, 1889. Audit of Local Bodies' Accounts.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3270, 31 July 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily WEDNESDAY, JULY 81, 1889. Audit of Local Bodies' Accounts.

Sir J. Hall, according to Hansard report, recently asked the Colonial Treasurer whether the Government propose to tako any steps during the present session to remedy the great inconvenience to which several local governing bodies are now exposed by reason of the delay which takes place in tlio audit of their accounts by the Colonial Audit Department? He put this question in consequence of the great delay and inconvenience which had arisen through the present system of auditing these accounts, They had now to re audited by the Colonial Audit Department. Road Board accounts had to be made up to the 81st March, and forwarded at once to the Audit department, which was expected to return them before the meeting of ratepayers, which by law was held in -the first week in May. In a great number of instances —he thought the greater number—the accounts were not received in time to give an opportunity to the local bodies to hold their annual meetings at the statutory time; and they generally hud to be adjourned, at great inconvenience in some cases. This had been so in his own district, Under these circumstances i» would seem that the present system had broken down, and he should like to know whether the Government would deal with the matter and make some provision to secure the prompt auditing of these local accounts." Sir H. At Atkinson, in reply, stated that a Bill to meet the iuconvenience represented by Sir J, Hall was now in courso ef preparation, and possibly when, either in the course of the present or next session, this measure comes before tlio House, we may hear something more about the system which has broken down. Our Legislature, in its wisdom, undertakes a rariety of businesses which in other countries are relegated to private efforts, The success of some of their ventures is extremely doubtful, and in tlio particular one which gives them a monopoly of the audit of the accounts of local bodies it is particularly dubious. The expense of the Government audit of these accounts is greater than it would be if local men were emplojed to do the work, and it is questionable whether the work is better done under a red tape system, which may swallow a camel while straining' at a gnat, One result of the audit monopoly is that private accountants are run off the road by a Government department taking the best and most" remunsrative work out of their hands. Just in the same way that the aovemment educational system - starved out private teaching, the audit department annihilates the private professional auditor, It is a decided advantage for country towns to live as residents ut fair supply of competent accountants, but of this benefit they [ are deprived by the departmental ■! bureau. To be consistent, the ( Government should either extend its ,

buainoss by' undertaking all the auditorial work of the colony, or abandon to private enterprise its proper functions. No doubt thero was a time when liberal Government subsidies to local bodies gave the State a vested interest in their affairs and justified the appointment of an audit control. But this happy state of things has passed away, and with it the responsibilities of the central Government for the accounts ot local bodies. If, under proper restrictions, the State licensed competent persons as auditors it would perhaps exorcise all the functions that properly appertain to it. The system, which, according to Sir "John Hall, has broken down, might, perhaps, be abandoned with more advantage than would accrue from it being patched up again.