75

A.—4,

obtained at a cheaper rate, and of superior workmanship, it is probable that the whole stock will in future be sent for to England. No stock of impressed paper is kept, stamps are only impressed as required by requisition from the distributers. The stamp duty on deeds is not collected by means of stamps, but the value of the duty paid is written on the deeds by the Collector of Stamp Duty, an officer who collects no stamp duties other than that on deeds. There appears to be no sufficient check on this branch of revenue. Duty stamps, like postage stamps, are distributed only by the Post Office, there being no separate stamp establishment. They are sold to the public by the Postmasters and by authorized agents. The impressed stamps are created at the Post Office under the superintendence of the Secretary to the Post Office, in whose custody is also the stock of adhesive stamps. Postage stamps are issued for cash only, to the Postmasters, who are allowed 4 per cent, commission on sales. Eor duty stamps the distributers are allowed a standing credit, which is recouped by purchases as the stock is sold. The same rule applies both to impressed and adhesive stamps. At Launceston, however, a stock of postage stamps is allowed on credit, and an account is kept. The Postmaster at Launceston pays his collections into an official account at the Bank daily, and transfers the balance to the Post Office account monthly The Post Office pays its receipts to the Treasury every fortnight. The only books relating to "stamps which are kept in the Post Office are—the cash-book, debited with receipts for stamps entered from the requisitions, and discharged by lodgments in the Bank, and the issue-book, showing the stamps under the several descriptions issued from the office. The accounts of the Stamp branch are not kept by double entry, nor is a complete balance-sheet made. The stock is counted monthly by the Secretary and another officer of the department, but no independent inspection appears to be made. Returns of the receipts and issues, and of the stock on hand, are sent periodically to the Audit Office.

The Stamp Act in New Zealand is administered by a Commissioner of Stamps, who, although not so required by the Act, has hitherto been one of the Responsible Ministers, and by a permanent Under-Secretary The paper for adhesive stamps is obtained from England upon orders sent by the Colonial Secretary to the Agent-General. It is supplied in books with numbered sheets, and on arrival is opened and checked by an officer of the department in the presence of an officer of the Audit Department. It is in the custody of the Under-Secretary for Stamps, who is debited with the stock, and issues it to the stamp printer upon requisitions which ho first signs as approved. The stamps as soon as made are sent to the Treasury, and placed in the custody of the Cashier, Avho gives the printer receipts for the quantities supplied to him. The Under-Secretary makes periodical returns to the Audit of the issues of paper to the printer, supported by the requisitions of the latter, and of the issues of stamps to the Treasury, supported by the receipts of the Cashier, stating also the balance of paper on hand. These returns are checked against periodical returns made by the Cashier to the Audit Office, of his receipts and issues of stamps and of the Balance in hand. Adhesive stamps are issued, by the Cashier, to the Stamp Office upon requisitions in duplicate "sent in from time to time by the Deputy Commissioners for the stocks they require , and one copy after being approved by the Under-Secretary for Stamps is passed on to the Treasury and Audit. Unlike all other Stamp Offices, the Head Office in New Zealand issues no stamps to the public, this is done only by the Deputy Commissioners, of whom there are ten in the different districts throughout the colony, but the Head Office issues the stocks which are placed in the hands of depositaries on credit, directly to the latter No stock is kept at the Head Office, the supplies being

New Zealand.