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The Hon. Mr C. McI Messer interogated by Mr. Nisbet.
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Q:2
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Q:3
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Since you became Colonial Treasurer in 1919
have you considered the financial operations of the
Registrar, other than revenue, as being outside your general management and supervision?
They are certainly not under my general manage- ment, they come under the Head of the Department, You
can't supervise. That is up to the head of the Department
the most that can be done is occasional supervision. The
only thing that comes under the Treasurer is system.
The head of the department can look to him for guidance.
The Treasurer is responsible for the system of book
keeping but not for the details. He is responsible
for system to a certain degree.
Do you consider the accounting operations of the
Registry come within the regulation requiring you to see
that a proper system of accounting is in force in every
department?
The cash book of the Suitors Fund is kept at the
Treasury. I have always taken it that the Registrar gives
a direction to someone to pay at the Treasury. Certain
of your accounts are under the Treasury. The Liquidation account is not. (Mr. Nisbet explains that the liquidation
account is not his account).
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Had I not every right to believe that the system
of book keeping was satisfactory to the Treasurer?
Yes. I don't remember any instructions for
change since I have been Treasurer. There have been no
general instructions for change.
Would you kindly state definitely whether any
inspection of my accounts has been made by a Treasury
official since you became Colonial Treasurer?
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