TNAG-0236-FCO40-272-Changes-in-delegation-of-responsibility-for-matters-of-finan-1970 — Page 18

72. The Crown Agents, being the agents of the Colonial Govern- ments, will comply with all requisitions sent to them which bear the signature of, or are forwarded by, the proper officer of the Colonial Government, unless they consider that further particulars are required or consultation is desirable. The oflicer concerned will be held respon- sible that no requisitions are sent to the Crown Agents unless the expenditure has been duly authorized.

273. Orders shall in no case be given by the Colonial Government directly or through local agents to firms in the United Kingdom or in countries not adjacent to the Colony, although the names of firms whom the Colonial Government may for any reason wish to employ may be mentioned in the body of the requisition forwarded to the Crown Agents.

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274. Purchases of stores required from an adjacent country shall be confined to articles produced in that country, and shall be procured as far as possible in the manner prescribed by Regulation 270.

M. Custody of Stores

275. Every officer having in his charge any stores or other articles which are public property shall keep a record of their reccipt and disposal or consumption in a form acceptable to the Director of Audit.

276. Heads of departments shall satisfy themselves by occasional stocktaking that the balances of stores on charge are actually in stock. In addition all government stores shall be completely verified at least once a year by a duly appointed stock verifier, or by Boards of Survey appointed by the Governor which shall not include the storekeeper or any member of the staff.

277. The authority for the writing off of losses and deficiencies of stores is as follows:-

(1) Where the amount excceds £250 and is caused by the fraud or negligence of an officer the authority of the Secretary of State is required, unless he has fixed some other limit for the Colony concerned.

(2) In other cases the authority of the Governor only is required and he may delegate this authority to the Colonial Secretary or the Financial Secretary for use in minor cases.

278. The condemnation of stores or other articles as unserviceable shall not be sanctioned except on the report of a Board of Survey unless the articles in question are of small original value, in which case the Governor may at his discretion dispense with a Board.

279. Unserviceable stores, or stores which though serviceable are not required by the Colonial Government shall, if sold, be disposed of by public auction or by tenders after public advertisement, unless the special approval of the Governor (or of the officer appointed by him for the purpose) is obtained for their being sold otherwise.

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