TWO DISMISSED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 199, 23 August 1945, Page 8

TWO DISMISSED

RATIONING OFFICERS

RECENT COURT CASE SEQUEL Parliamentary Reporter. WELLINGTON, this day. A statement on the position of the two rationing inspectors who were concerned in a court case in Auckland recently was made in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan.

The Minister stated, that the two men had been dismissed and he quoted a report by the Public Service Commissioner, who investigated the case.

"I have investigated the allegation that rationing inspectors were instructed to take bribes when offered and to pay the money into the Public Account," stated the commissioner's report, "and after full investigation I am satisfied on the following facts: —No instruction was given bv the Food Controller or by any authoritative person that bribes were to be accepted in any circumstances.

"No official approval of any suggestion that the practice of taking bribes and paying them into the Public Account was given or implied at the 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.

Appointees Warned

"It has been the practice of the controller when new staff are being engaged to warn appointees that they must resist any suggestion of bribes. At the conference which occurred about the time that the question of a bribe being offered was mentioned in a Wellington case some inspectors during a break in proceedings discussed among themselves the value, as evidence of guilt, of being able to prove that a bribe had been offered. It is possible that they had in mind the Court's rejection of an unsupported statement that a bribe had been made and one man suggested that proof would be available if the money were taken and paid into the Public Account.

"Subsequently the same point was raised in an informal discussion among inspectors in the Auckland office, but there was no agreement that the practice of taking bribes and paying them into the Public Account should be adopted. The taking of bribes in any circumstances whatever is entirely contrary to the ethical standard expected of all public servants in their dealing with the public.

"It was admitted that these men, Lockery and Harvey, did in fact take the money, from whatever motive. They had been warned that they must not take money and I regard thern as having by their action shown their unfitness to remain in the Public Service. I have therefore terminated their employment."

The Minister's statement was greeted by a loud "Hear, hear" from Opposition benches. At the conclusion Mr. Sheat (Nat., Patea) asked: "Are you going to prosecute them for perjury."