ALLEGED BRIBES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25288, 23 August 1945, Page 4

ALLEGED BRIBES

OFFICIAL REPORT MADE

DISMISSAL OF INSPECTORS (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The employment of the two ration: * - !? ing inspectors who concerned in ' i the recent Atickland Couri case has been terminated, according to a statement marie, in the House of Representatives today by the Minister of Suppiy, Mr Sullivan. The Minister previously had given an undertaking that he would make a further statement in the House about the prosecution of the two inspectors and lie quoted a report from the Public .Service Commissioner who had carried out an investigation. "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:— So instruction was given hy the Fond • Controller or by any authoritative person that bribes were to be accepted in any circumstances. Clear Warning Given "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. "It has been the practice of the controller when new staif 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 ruflde and one man suggested that proof would be. available if the money were taken and paid into the Public Account. Entirely Contrary to Standard "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 dealings 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 them as having by their action shown their unfitness to remain in the Public Service. I have terminated their employment." The Minister's statement was greeted by a loud "Hear, hear" from Opposition benches. At the conclusion Mr W. A. Sheat (Opposition—Patea) asked: "Arc you going to prosecute them for perjury." STRANDED IN FRANCE TWO NEW ZEALAND WOMEN BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S . AID An instance of the generous action of the British Government in giving financial assistance to British subjects stranded in enemy-occupied countries during the war is the treatment of two women whose sole source of income depended on a New* Zealand estate, administered by the Guardian Trust and Executors Co. of New Zealand, Ltd. Tliey were living in F,ranee and, with the occupation of the country, payment of benefits could not be made. The British Government, therefore, advanced relief payments to the women, the amount to be repaid later. On the repatriation of one of the beneficiaries, she other having died, £512 was owing to the Government, and her accumulated income amounted to £243. The Government released her from her obligation to repay the debt and authorised the payment of the accumulated income to her. • . &