FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR 1954 AND REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT, MALAYA

Mr T. M. Hart: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That this Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order 61 (2), resolves that the Financial Statements for the year 1954, as contained in Sessional Paper No. Cmd. 3 of 1956, together with the Report of the Director of Audit, Malaya, thereon, as contained in Sessional Paper No. Cmd. 7 of 1956, should be referred to the Public Accounts Committee.

Sir, the financial statements for 1954, together with the Director of Audit's Report, have now been tabled and it is considered desirable that they should be referred to the Public Accounts Committee for examination without further delay.

Standing Order 61(2) prescribes that it shall be the duty of the Committee to examine the accounts showing the appropriation of funds granted by the Assembly to meet the public expenditure and such other accounts laid before the Assembly as the Assembly may refer to the Committee.

You, Sir, have held that, since the 1954 accounts refer to sums granted by the Legislative Council and not the Legislative Assembly, reference of these accounts to the Public Accounts Committee is not automatic under Standing Order 61(2), but require a resolution of the Assembly under the same Standing Order. This is the reason for this motion.

I think it will be generally agreed that the Assembly has a duty to examine, through its Public Accounts Committee, accounts dealing with sums granted to the Executive by its legislative predecessor, the Legislative Council. Sir, I beg to move.

The Chief Minister: I second it.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order 61 (2), resolves that the Financial Statements for the year 1954, as contained in Sessional Paper No. Cmd. 3 of 1956, together with the Report of the Director of Audit, Malaya, thereon, as contained in Sessional Paper No. Cmd. 7 of 1956, should be referred to the Public Accounts Committee.