29

B.—l |Pt. IV, Sup. A

Value of stocks at 31st March, 1923— Plant, material, and stores on Yand .. .. .. 417,019 17 10 Material and stores issued to works other than railwayconstruction but unused at date .. .. .. 42,089 5 6 459,109 3 4 Value of sawmills, including standing bush and timber in stock 31,677 3 10 Workshops and garages .. .. .. .. 24,739 2 8 Office furniture and fittings and furniture at Government Houses and Ministerial residences .. .. .. 32,095 12 10 Head Office library .. .. .. .. .. 650 0 0 89,161 19 4 Sundry debtors .. .. .. .. .. 15,452 9 3 Telephone rentals, &c., paid in advance .. .. .. 1,276 10 7 16,728 19 10 Loans to Kairuru Marble Company and Gore Borough .. 8,635 8 0 Interest accrued to 31st March, 1923 .. .. .. 125 0 0 8,760 8 0 ! Balances of Income and Expenditure Accounts— Maintenance of public buildings .. .. .. 75,224 2 4 Maintenance of domains .. .. .. .. 4,709 1 11 | Maintenance of roads .. .. .. .. 60,016 9 3 Maintenance of irrigation schemes .. .. .. 6,861 16 10 146,811 10 4 £25,506,202 2 9 £25,506,202 2 9 J. J. Gibson, Accountant, Public Works Department. I hereby certify that the Income and Expenditure Accounts, Profit and Loss Account, and balance-sheet have been compared with the relative books and papers submitted for audit and found to agree therewith. The accounts include charges against the Department for interest and sinking fund for which there is no appropriation by Parliament, and also credits for the value of assessed and paid rents, and for the erection and repairs of buildings, for which the debtor Departments possess no parliamentary appropriation. The system of accounting for Government stores has been much improved, and the Department is taking the necessary steps to comply with the provisions of the Public Revenues Act. Certain other improvements, of which the Department has been advised, are desirable in future balance -sheets.— G. F. C. Campbell, Controller and Auditor-General.