The Leader of the Opposition said the fact that the Treasury could not bring down the annual accounts for 30 days after the close of the financial year simply meant there must be some system of ac count-keeping that was cumbrous or voluminous to the last degree. The Premier, in reply, said the amend ments proposed in the Bill were absolutely necessary, as for years past every Govern ment had violated the law simply becauso it was impossible to obey the law. la re spect to the accounts, the books of the Treasury had to bo kept open for 14 days, and owing to distant parts in which public works were going on, vouchers could not reach the Treasury in less than a fortnight. He supposed the Opposition would blame the Government for what was a result of the natural configuration of the country. If the restriction in respect to audit was re moved and Treasury accounts were pub lished, as in Great Britain, that was a dif ferent matter, but the New Zealand law said they must have audit ocoounts, and that took time. The Opposition talked very freely about necessary reforms, but, he asked, why did they not introduce those reforms when they were in office ? The clause which had been objected to extending the annual ap propriations fsr three mouths was really an improvement on the present system, because under this the whole of tho ex penditure would bo brought under the audit. Ho would consult with his officers as to the advisability of publishing the Customs returns at the earliest possible time, as he declared he had no wish to keep back any information which was really in the interests of commerce. Tho Treasury was really one of the best de partments they had and there was no desire on tho part of tho department to keep hack information, but they could not bring in outsiders for a few weeks to make up these accounts oven if the House would agree to the necessary expenditure. The second reading was agreed to. At 5.15 tho House took the usual dinner adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. old aoe pensions.
