BUREAUCRATIC ABUSES

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29179, 13 April 1960, Page 12

BUREAUCRATIC ABUSES

Denmark Has Solution

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, April 12.

Professor Stephan Hurwitz, Denmark’s “ombudsman,” a>r Parliamentary commissioner for grievances, has come to London to give lectures on Denmark’s democratic system and particularly his own duties. For several years there have been intermittent campaigns in the British press for the creation of some similar position in Britain as a means of protecting the public from abuses and injustices of bureaucracy. , A full-scale research into administrative decisions that lead to injustices for individuals who have no redress is already under way in Britain. It has ■ been undertaken by “Justice,” an organisation of lawyers. Justice has made a public appeal for evidence which might strengthen its hand in claiming that the appointment of an "ombudsman” should be made in Britain. Its campaign has the support of several national newspapers.

“My work is largely to investigate legitimate complaints from groups or individuals and to make them public,” said Professor Hurwitz pn arrival. "I am responsible solely to Parliament and I make my case to the proper Minister concerned. So far I have never had a recommendation turned down.

“I believe such a position as mine is advisable in any country to protect the citizen against injustice. In a larger, morepopulated country like Britain, however, probably more than one person would be needed—perhaps one main committee with regional committees.”