A.-4

60

If the cost of the Inspecting Officers had been charged to the Audit instead of the Treasury in New South Wales, the Audit percentage would have been '13 instead of -08; and the New Zealand percentage cost would have appeared the lowest of all the colonies, notwithstanding that it has to stand the pressure of a pre-audit of payments, and to audit the accounts of the Insurance Office and the Public Trust Office. The New Zealand Treasury appears to cost less than any other in proportion to the expenditure, except South Australia. In the joint cost of the two offices, New Zealand is the lowest. The numbers employed in the Audit and Treasuries of the several colonies are stated in the latest Estimates to be as follows :—

V. Savings Banks. The only Savings Bank which came under my notice was that in Queensland. In all other colonies the Savings Banks are either attached to the Post Offices, which I was unable from want of time to examine, or are private establishments. The Savings Bank of Queensland, however, is a Government establishment, but is not connected with the Post Office, and being a very successful institution is deserving of special notice. There are about seventy-five branches throughout the colony, in charge, in most cases, of a Government officer, Postmaster or other, but in some few instances of a Storekeeper. The salaries paid are very small, usually from £10 to £25 a year; in two or three cases as much as £50 a year is given. The salaries are fixed by a scale depending on the number of accounts opened at each office. All the accounts are kept and all withdrawals made only in the books of the head office ; but money paid in at one office may be withdrawn, in course of post, or, upon payment of Is. for the telegram, by wire, at any other office in the colony. Upon depositing any money the depositor has to fill up a printed form of application, stating what he wishes to deposit. All applications are sent up daily, or by every mail, to the head office. On the payment of the deposit the depositor is given a deposit-book, in which each deposit is entered, and signed by the officer receiving it, whether made in the office from which the book was issued or in any other office. The deposit-books are numbered consecutively in the head office,

* Including four inspecting officers. f Counting two inspecting officers, the three others being employed on tlio railways.

Expenditure. Cost of Audit, , Cost of Treasury, per Cent. per Cent. 'ost or Treasury and Audit, per Cent % Tew South Wales .. Victoria . . lueensland Icrath Australia 'asmania.. Jew Zealand £ 9,012,820 7,741,163 2,663,634 2,996,685 689,140 6,247,267 •08 •12 •2 •14 •25 •10 •17 ■37 •15 •11 •41 •13 •25 •49 •35 •25 •66 ■23

Treasury. Audit. Total. n New South Wales Victoria Queensland .. South Australia Tasmania New Zealand.. 54* 72 11 11 8 38 24 25 12 14 7 22f 78 97 23 25 15 60