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"Most of the large contractors are known to
me personally and all are known to me by name,
and I am aware of all extensive works which
large contractors have imhand. I see all the
contracts after the tenders are accepted.
After scrutinising the vouchers, I sign
the cheques and initial the paylist to indicate
that the cheques have been signed. I then repin
the cheques to the paylist.
The cheques and vouchers are then taken from my desk by the "egistry clerk himself, or
by a messenger, who hands them to the Registry
clerk. The Registry clerk's table is within a
few yards of my own.
The Registry clerk sorts out the paylists,
setting aside those which are for Government
departments, and places thse with their cheques
in envelopes ready for dispatch to the depart-
ments concerned.
The paylists and cheques for contractors'
and other non-Genernment people's accounts are
handed over by the Registry clerk to the No.1
shroff.
The No.1 shroff detaches the cheques and
hands the paylist to a junior clerk, who notifies
the contractors that their cheques are ready.
When the contractors present themselves
for payment, the No.1 shroff gives them their
cheques and obtains the necessary signatures on
the vouchers.
Without collusion on the part of the
messenger, the Registry clerk or the No.1 shroff,
it would be exceedingly difficult, if not imposs-
ible, to obtain possession of a cheque (otherwise
than by payment out over the counter), once the