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1933. NEW ZEALAND

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE. CONTROLLER AND AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT ON THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS (FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1933). (REPORT ON MATTERS REFERRED TO THEREIN.) (Mr. J. A. NASH, Chairman.)

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE.

Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, the 6th Day of October, 1933. Ordered, " That a Select Committeo be appointed consisting of ten members, to examine into and report upon mich questions relating to the public accounts as may be referred to it by the House or the Government, and also into all matters relating to the finances of the Dominion which the Government may refer to it: the Committee to consist of Mr. Broadfoot, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Kiidcan, Mr. Holyoake, Mr. Howard, Mrs. McCombs, Mr. J. A. Nash, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Wilkinson, and the mover."—(Right Hon. Mr. Coates.) Monday, the 11th Day oe December, 1933. Ordered, " That Paper No. 163 (Public Accounts for Financial Year ended 31st March, 1933, together with the Report of the Controller and Auditor-General thereon, 8.-l [Pt. II]), be referred to the Public Accounts Committee for consideration and report, the Committee to have leave, for such purpose, to sit during any sitting of the House, and to report to the House not later than on Thursday afternoon next." —(Right Hon. Mr. Coates.)

REPORT.

I have the honour to report that the above-mentioned report was referred to the Public Accounts Committee for consideration, and the following conclusions were arrived at:— That the prominence given to the Controller and Auditor-General's report has created an erroneous impression in respect to more or less minor matters of a technical nature. The report itself has mistakenly created a feeling in the minds of those not well versed in public finance that the financial administration is at fault. We are of opinion that the public accounts represent a true and correct position of the financial administration of the Dominion.