and that the time can
hardly be
very
remote when for his own sake, and in the interest of Government, it will be desirable to relieve him of the responsible duties which now devolve on him. Owing to the extra set of accounts which have to be prepared and sent to London the current work of the Department is already considerably in arrear.
My proposal that a competent Public Works Accountant should be sent out capable of organising a good working system of Public Works and Stores accounts was made with a view to economy. I did not at the time feel justified in asking for two officials, viz: an Accountant and a Storekeeper. I fully recognize, however, the objections raised in the Colonial Office despatch to the same official being Chief Accountant and Chief Storekeeper. I would suggest that the difficulty may be easily removed by supplying the Department in the first place with a competent Book Keeper, practically acquainted with Public Works accounts (including Stores) to assist in organising the Accountant's Office and the Stores Books on a good working footing.
The organisation of the Stores Department must necessarily occupy some time, as the selection of a convenient site, and the erection of a suitable building have to be effected. The official appointed may ultimately be made Chief Storekeeper or Chief Accountant as may be decided by Government. In my opinion, the appointment of Chief Accountant will prove the more important, as the bulk of the stores will be Public Works Stores.