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Hon. A. LISTER.-Well, the Audit Office and Treasury would object in the same way as your washerman would object, if when he had got as far, say, as the ironing process, you came down on him with two or three articles forgotten, and insisted the whole thing should be commenced over again for these two or three articles.
Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-But pardon me. The bill is sent in for a specific amount of work. Why cannot that be passed at once when it is sent in, as would be the case in any mercantile firm? What is the object of putting a number of various accounts in one pay sheet and getting them paid en bloc?
Hon. A. LISTER.-It is very much more convenient. I will take the Post Office as an example. We always have our other duties going on, and naturally wish to give as little time to this departmental work as we can. We therefore wish to have this worry of paying bills as seldom as possible, and I should feel much annoyed if, just after I had sent my monthly sheaf of bills in to the Audit Office, any one were to come with his bill and insist on being paid at once. If it were a case of urgency I should do it.
Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-Some bills may have to stand over for examination, but why as a general rule the practice cannot be as in a mercantile office I do not see. Every morning one of the first duties is to have bills sent in and examined, before the day is out they are initialed in the department to which they are applicable, and then they come before the Cashier for payment immediately.
Hon. A. LISTER.-Such a system might be devised, but speaking without having examined the question, I think it might open the door to irregularities we get rid of now, but it would be a matter for a Committee to go into and devise a better system,
Mr. GOULBOURN is examined,
Q.-Hon. A. LISTER.-What is your position in the Public Works Department?
A.-Clerk and storekeeper of the Tai-tam Water-works.
Q-Have you nothing to do with anything but the Tai-tam Water-works?
A. That is my position at present.
Q.-Have you had any employment, any general employment?
A.-Previously to the time I was appointed clerk and storekeeper of the Tai-tam Works I was the corresponding or third clerk in the department, the same as Mr. CHAN FUK now is.
Q.-Had you then anything to do with bills or payments?
A.-Nothing whatever.
Q.-But I see a good many bills in Mr. CHAN FUK's handwriting. Has he any- thing to do with these bills now?
A.-Not that I am aware of.
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