I have examined the above Account and Balance Sheet in accordance with the provisions of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act, 1921. I have obtained all the information and explanations that I have required and I certify, as the result of my audit, that in my opinion the above Account and Balance Sheet are correct. For Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General see page iv. Malcolm G. Ramsay, On the debit side of the Profit and Loss Account appear the total costs of operating the stations, consisting of the direct charges at the Stations, plus depreciation at 7 per cent. per annum on the value of the plant, machinery, &c., and the cost of the staff employed under the Accountant-General of the Navy in the collection of the revenue. and of the staff employed under the Principal Accountant in the preparation of this account. The total expense of collection (including rent. stationery, and staff), which is approximately 7 per cent. of the working expenses, has been allocated to the stations at that rate. On the credit side of the Profit and Loss Account the value of the services performed for the Admiralty is shown at cost, and is based on the number of Naval words transmitted and received. The Commercial Revenue is received in gold francs converted at the par of exchange. As the Stations were erected for Naval purposes, the commercial work being only a by-product, interest on capital values has not been taken into consideration in the Profit and Loss Account. 29 December 1927. 0. Murray, Accounting Officer. I have examined the above Account in accordance with the provisions of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act, 1921. I have obtained all the information and explanations that I have required, and I certify, as the result of my audit, that in my opinion the above account is correct. Malcolm G. Ramsay, Comptroller and Auditor General. ADMIRALTY. CASKS AND COOPERAGE ARTICLES (HOME YARDS AND MALTA). SUMMARY OF THE ARTICLES MANUFACTURED IN THE VICTUALLING I have examined the above statements in accordance with the provisions of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act, 1921. I have obtained all the information and explanations that I have required, and I certify, as the result of my audit, that in my opinion the statements are correct. Malcolm G. Ramsay, Comptroller and Auditor General. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES. CONWAY MUSSEL CLEANSING SCHEME. (1) September 1925 to August 1926. (2) September 1926 to March 1927. As stated in forewords to previous accounts in connexion with this undertaking, the Corporation of Conway obtained in 1911 an Order under the Sea Fisheries Act, 1868, which conferred on them the right of regulating the mussel fishery in the estuary of the Conway River, with power to establish cleansing tanks for the treatment of mussels intended for sale for human consumption. Tanks were constructed by the Corporation at a cost of £2,233, of which sum £1,000 was provided by grant from the Development Fund, in order to carry into effect a system of cleansing which had been previously evolved after experimental work by the Ministry's scientific staff. The cleansing of mussels on a commercial scale was commenced in September 1916. In September 1918, the working of the tanks was, by arrangement with the Conway Corporation, taken over by the Ministry, in order to avoid technical obstacles to the Ministry's system of cleansing. The tanks were purchased by the Ministry in 1919 with money provided from the Development Fund and have been operated in every season (September to April) since that date. Capital expenditure has been incurred in effecting improvements in working with a view to securing a larger output. The cleansing fee, which had been reduced from 1s. 6d. to 1s. per bag in 1924-25 was restored to 1s. 6d. per bag in 1925-26. The mussel trade in the latter period proved poor, the number of bags dealt with being 7,000 only as compared with 7,470 in the previous year. The higher fee, however, resulted in an increase in receipts from £373 13s. 3d. to £525 14s. 9d. It has now been considered desirable to adjust the period of the account of the Mussel Cleansing Scheme to coincide with the financial year, and, as a first step, an account has been prepared as at 31 March 1927 covering a period of seven months from the date of the previous account. During this period the cleansing fee of 1s. 6d. per bag was maintained and receipts amounted to £749 10s. 7d., 10,000 bags being passed through the tanks. As, however, the period from 1 April to 31 August is the close season for mussels these receipts represent practically a year's income. The net profit shown in this account is, therefore, larger than would be earned in a normal trading year. |