FOOD RATIONING INSPECTORS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 268, 23 August 1945, Page 5

FOOD RATIONING INSPECTORS.

ALLEGED ACCEPTANCE OF BRIBES. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 22. The Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) made h- statement in the House this afternoon on the allegation that two rationing inspectors had accepted bribes. He said he had received a report from the Public Service Commissioner which stated that after full investigation the Commissioner was satisfied that: (1) No instruction was given by the Food Controller or by any authoritative person that bribes were to be accepted in any circumstances. (2) No official approval of any suggestion that the practice of taking bribes and paying them int 9 the Public Account was given or implied. (3) At a conference in May the Food and Rationing Controller gave a clear warning to all inspectors that a bribe had been offered in one case, and that bribes must not be accepted. (4) New members of the staff were warned that they must resist any suggestion of bribes. (5) Some inspectors had discussed among themselves the value as evidence of guilt of being able to prove that a bribe had been offered, and one man suggested that proof would be available if a bribe were paid into the Public Account.

(6) The same point was raised in a formal discussion among inspectors at Auckland, but there was no agreement that the taking of bribes and the paying of them into the Public Account should be adopted. . i The taking of bribes in any circumstances whatever was entirely contrary to the ethical standards expected of all public servants in dealings with the public. It was admitted that Lockery and Harvey did, in fact, take inoney from whatever motive. They had been warned that they must not take money, and the Commissioner regarded them as having by their action shown their unfitness to remain in the Public Service, therefore their employment terminated.