THEFTS BY CIVIL SERVANTS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24022, 10 August 1943, Page 3

THEFTS BY CIVIL SERVANTS

— -♦ AUDITOR-GENERAL’S COMMENTS “The improvement mentioned in last year’s report in regard to defalcations by departmental officers has not been maintained, the number of cases and the amount involved this year being greater than were reported last year,’ states the annual report of the Auditor-General (Mr C. G. Collins). “A serious defalcation occurred in the Native Department, where an officer occupying the position of property supervisor did not account for certain of the proceeds received by him from sales of livestock. The thefts had gone undetected for a considerable time, partly through the culprit being in a position to falsify tallies, and the case emphasised the need for periodical independent tallies of stock in respect of each farm. “The number of cases in which recipients of pensions, sustenance, age and other benefits obtained payment in excess of scale rates by failing to disclose materia] particulars of their circumstances to the department concerned, shows a further reduction compared with the previous year. The number of cases reported this year is 551, as against 1330 last year. "Within the limits imposed by staff shortage, close attention has again been given throughout the year to the audit of Army pay both in the Dominion and overseas. The work is well up to date and the only serious irregularity that occurred was in connexion with payment of casual assistance for medical examinations in Dunedin. In this case certain personnel have been convicted of fraud based on forgery of acquittance rolls. The Audit Office is informed by the Army Department that an inquiry is to be held to ascertain what degree of responsibility for loss arising from the frauds must be accepted by controlling officers who certified the rolls.”