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Session 11. . 1906. NEW ZEALAND.

NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT DEBENTURES: CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN AUDIT AND TREASURY DEPARTMENTS RELATIVE TO FORM OF INTEREST CERTIFICATES.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Act.

Audit Office, 24th August, 1906. The Controller and Auditor-General, in the circumstances appearing in the correspondence of which he begs leave to submit a copy, has the honour respectfully to inform the House of Representatives that interest on New Zealand Government loan debentures of denominations not exceeding £100, issued without coupons, continues to be passed by the Audit Office as paid on the certificates of the paying officers without the receipted vouchers required by the Public Revenues Act. J. -X- Warburton, Controller and Auditor-General. The Hon. the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

No. 1. The Treasury, New Zealand, Wellington, 16th February, 1906. Referring to the form of interest-certificate as attached hereto, I very much regret that I have overlooked the conclusions arrived at by the Public Accounts Committee in their Report No. 1, lie —namely, that this form should be submitted "with the addition of the attesting certificate from an independent officer." I had fully intended to have had a new form drawn up at once, but pressure of other business caused the matter to escape my memory which has now been revived by hearing that you have drawn attention to the unsuitability of the existing form. I have given instructions to have an amended form prepared and printed as quickly as possible. Copy will be first submitted to you. In the meantime, I shall be glad if you will kindly allow the present form to stand until the new one can be issued. Jas. B. Heywood, Secretary. The Controller and Auditor-General, Wellington. The Treasury. Certainly. The AuditJOffice raises no objection. J. Warburton, C. & A.-G. 19/2/6. The Assistant Secretary. Please see about the new forms. J. B. H,, 20th February, 1906.

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