A (2) 12
As a result of the Audit Submission, it has been laid down that in any future cases the covering authority of the Government should be sought where a fine has been imposed and it is desired to cancel it, and that efforts should be made to avoid retrospective extensions of time.
EXCHANGE CONTRACT.
54. During the year the Government suffered a loss of $314,447.62 on a sterling contract for remittances to the Crown Agents for the Colonies. The Government has been requested by this Department to obtain the Secretary of State's covering approval for making forward sterling contracts, as this is a departure from the recognized Treasury practice. In connection with the loss on this contract, the Government has also been requested by this Department to ask the Treasurer how he has shown this loss in his accounts, but no reply has been received.
Further, there does not appear to have been any notification to this Department of the signing of this contract.
SUSPENSE ACCOUNT.
SUBSIDIARY COIN IN TRANSIT ACCOUNT.
55. Two sums, £36.5.3 and £32.18.10 appear in this account at the termination of the financial year. These sums represent final disbursements by the Crown Agents on account of freight on consignments of silver and copper. Although this expenditure was incurred in 1982 it was not allocated against any head of final expenditure, but was placed in the Suspense Account. This is incorrect, as it should have been charged to final expenditure in the financial year in which it was incurred.
SUPPLEMENTARY VOTES.
56. The attention of the Government has been drawn by this Department to several Supplementary Votes, which were approved by the Legislature and Secretary of State. It was stated at the time when the Votes were applied for that the excess expenditure would be met from savings on other sub-heads of expenditure. The savings, however, did not accrue.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEFT FROM THE CHARGE ROOM, CENTRAL POLICE STATION, $920.75.
57. In the latter part of December the Chinese Constable who had been on special Charge Room duty for many years was found to have absconded, and the sum of $920.75 to be missing from the Charge Room Safe. The money is being refunded.