M.P. says Labour Dept grossly lax

Press, 5 February 1987, Page 7

M.P. says Labour Dept grossly lax

. Wellington reporter Mr Philip Burdon (Nat., Fendalton) has criticised what he calls loose and grossly lax procedures in the administration of the Labour Department There had been an apparent failure to take any disciplinary action against clear evidence of “massive” abuse and waste of public money, he said. Senior staff had neither co-operated with nor supported middle staff when fully justified complaints had surfaced about the waste and abuse of public funds. Nothing had been done to support staff being intimidated. Mr Burdon said that the

Government should say what action had been taken to discipline the people identified in the Penn and White reports as having acquiesced, and indeed masterminded, the huge over-pricing of some contract work schemes and the failure of senior department officers to monitor this abuse or take appropriate action. Mr Burdon said that the Minister of Police, Mrs Hercus, had failed to advise her Cabinet colleagues of the deep concern felt by police chiefs. She had been far too casual and slack in supporting her Police Department in the war against crime, he said.