A (2) 6
28. For reasons explained in paragraph 67 this asset is not supported by the certificate of an independent board of survey. The nearest approach to a board during the year is a return, the compilation of which took several months, of stock handed over by one Store Clerk to another (vide Enclosure ()).
COAL ACCOUNT, $4,638.93
29. This asset should represent the value of coal in hand on 31st December, 1930. The books of the Harbour Department, however, show the value as $3,399.88. The discrepancy is still under query.
30. The remaining assets have been verified, those held by the Crown Agents being supported by the Certificate of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
LIABILITIES.
SUITOR'S FUND, $606,433.84
31. This liability is the balance due to suitors as shown in the books of the Registrar, Supreme Court. There were, however, two further amounts of a similar nature in the hands of the District Officer, North and the District Officer, South but owing to the procedure referred to in paragraph 20 these amounts have not been included in the Assets and Liabilities Statement.
MISCELLANEOUS DEPOSITS, $984,532.54
32. This item includes a balance of $730,148.68 for Miscellaneous Deposits Bearing Interest, representing a large number of securities given mainly by firms in respect of their contracts and by officers in respect of their pecuniary liabilities.
The method by which record has been kept of these deposits in the past precludes a definite certificate being given of the correctness of this figure. A copy of the correspondence with the Treasurer is attached (Enclosure P) from which you will observe that a new system is being adopted to account for these deposits but this will take some time to complete. There is no reason to anticipate that any serious discrepancy will arise but the point will be kept in view.
HOUSE SERVICE ACCOUNT, $17,344.34
33. This represents excess of receipts over expenditure of a suspense account created to deal with water connections and installations made by the Public Works Department at the expense of Landlords. The amount is due to revenue and has been transferred accordingly in the March 1931 account.