CO129-605-1 Annual Accounts- 1946-7 9-9-1948 - 14-3-1949 — Page 21

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AUTHORITIES

FOR EXPENDITU

26.

REVENUE ACCOUNTS.

STORE ACCOUNTS.

So far as I am aware, the items of additional

provision covered by Special Warrants Nos. 156 161 have

27.

not been included in a Schedule of Additional Provision

approved by the Legislative Council and the Secretary of State.

Also, so far as I am ware, a Supplementary Appropriation

Law covering excesses on Heads of Expenditure in the Account as

rendered has not yet been enacted.

28. The Director of Audit reports that, due to the non-

payment by the Services of certain rents and rates on enemy

properties now under the control of the Custodian of Enemy

Property, Government has suffered a loss of revenue of

approximately 100,000, and the Custodian a loss of storage

charges of some 200,000. The matter has been referred to

te secretary of State.

29.

Due to the incomplete and unsatisfactory store records maintained by the Land Transport Department, it was found

necessary to write off, wit the approval of the Secretary of

state, ☀ 276,142.53 in respect of issues of petrol and oil to Government Departments not charge to departmental expenditure

heads in 1946-7, an 302,558.08 in respect of unidentifiable

issues.

30.

In general the condition of the stores accounting in

the Colony during the period under review was unsatisfactory and cannot be said to have provided adecuate safeguards against

fraud. This criticism applies more particularly to the Stores

Department and the Land Transport Department which, I under-

stand, have not yet recovered from the state of confusion which

arose during the period of the British Military Administration.

In the case of the Stores Department, a special Board of Survey

was, I understand, appointed to ascertain the quantity and value

of stores on hand at the 1st of April 1947, and it is proposed

to take on charge as opening balances in the stores records

at the 1st of April 1947, the figures arrived at by this Board,

but, so far as I am aware, the approval of the Secretary of

State.