By way of personal explanation I should like to say that my attention has been drawn to a condensed report of what I said when this House was discussing the Second Reading of this Bill. It appears that my remarks suggested that an expert should be got to audit the accounts, and they were put this way "that some public auditor knowing something about insurance would look after the accounts of this company." It seems that these words have been taken as suggesting that I did not trust the auditor of the company, or that I wished him changed, or something of that kind. Of course, Senator Kenny who was dealing with the matter knows that I meant nothing of the sort. What I intended the Government to do was to "see that the business was done in a proper way, that reserves were accumulated and that the ratepayers' interests were attended to." That, of course, was a question for the Government. As far as the auditor of the company is concerned I have every reason to believe that his work is excellently done, and that his certificate is valuable. That was not the aspect I was dealing with in my remarks on that last day at all. I wish to make it clear that apparently my remarks were misinterpreted.
PUBLIC BUSINESS. - LOCAL AUTHORITIES (MUTUAL ASSURANCE) BILL, 1928—COMMITTEE.
Bill, passed through Committee without amendment.