CO129-246 - Acting Governor Fleming - 1890 [8-9] — Page 561

General, and passed to the Accountant whose duty it is to check the calculation and prepare day lists classified according to the vote to which the charge is chargeable. The accounts then come before the Surveyor General for approval and signature, and should be passed on to the Treasury not later than the 26th day of the month for payment. Thus in about one month after the account is sent, the Contractor may receive his money.

In my opinion, the payment is far too delayed. I think with an efficient staff, it ought to be paid within 14 days of the close of each month. For it will be seen that if the Contractor neglects to send in his account, or the Engineer or Overseer in charge of the work should neglect to examine and to transmit it to the Accountant, indefinite delays may occur. This has been the case in many instances in the past, and much valuable time is spent in inquiring into old accounts.

To an extreme instance, I may mention that on Mr Cramp, Clerk of Works, going away on leave, he handed in numerous accounts, some long outstanding for the Victoria College and other works, which had been completed long before.

4. After the accounts are sent to the Treasury, I am not in a position to state what interval elapses before they are paid, nor do I know that this Department has any proof whether the accounts are paid or not, but it is, I presume, assumed that all accounts are duly paid unless this Department should receive notice to the contrary from the Treasury. And since my appointment, I have not received...