RELIEF ADMINISTRATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22250, 26 October 1935, Page 14

RELIEF ADMINISTRATION

ALLEGATIONS DISPROVED STATEMENT BY MINISTER [nV TKLKfiK.VI'JI —SPECIAL ItKPORTmI V."KLLI XGTOX, Friday Suggestions of maladministration in the relief of unemployment were given an emphatic denial to-day by the Minister of Employment, Hon. S. G. Smith. The .Minister stated that in the past such charges had come under his notice periodically, hut on their being investigated it war. found that they had absolutely no foundation in fact. "With the knowledge that inspectors were to he appointed," he continued, "1 preferred to await the results of their operations before making public any general contradiction. The inspectors have now minutely examined the complete operations of no fewer than G1 bureaux, covering secondary towns and small centres, while in addition they have reviewed the gold prospecting schemes in the South Island and have also conducted 15 special investigations. "The official report submitted to the Unemployment Hoard establishes that in none of these examinations has any fraud, grave mistake or culpable carelessness on the part of any Government employee been revealed. Nor has there been any discrepancy in the accounting for boots, blankets or rations. "I may say," added the .Minister, "that this confirmation of my own confidence in the administration of unemployment relief affords me extreme pleasure and will, I ho|>e, dispose ot any doubt which may have been created in the minds of the people."