HC Deb 04 April 1905 vol 144 cc315-6
MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL (Kerry, W.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the auditor, Mr. Cyril Browne, in his report to the Kerry County Council certified that the accounts of the county council were submitted by the accountant with such neatness and accuracy as to materially facilitate the business of the audit; and whether, in view of the reports of previous auditors as to the secretary's work, and that Mr. Cyril Browne has stated that the secretary of the county council was a very capable officer, he will explain why Mr. Browne has acted in the partisan manner in which he did in his report. †See (4) Debates, cxliii., 1208.

MR. WALTER LONG

Yes, Sir. But the report contains no observations adverse to the secretary, nor is it of a partisan character as suggested.

MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the auditor of the accounts of the Kerry County Council did not object to or criticise in his Report the manner in which the Limerick and Kerry Railway money was credited in the accounts and estimates, though it involved the apportionment of a sum of £33,000; and, if so, will he say whether the auditor, if he had any objection to make to the manner in which this money, or any portion thereof, was credited, should have informed the county council instead of making a private objection to the Local Government Board; whether this private report was made before or after the date of the auditor's public report; and whether this auditor had any and, if any, what previous experience of county council accounts

MR. WALTER LONG

It is a fact that the auditor communicated with the Local Government Board on this subject prior to the date of his public report, but the latter alone concerns the county council and the public. The auditor had no previous experience of county council accounts, but had considerable experience in the audit of accounts of other public bodies.

MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL

Can the right hon. Gentleman state exactly what previous experience this auditor had had?

MR. WALTER LONG

Obviously I cannot state exactly.