GRAVE WASTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10355, 12 August 1919, Page 5

GRAVE WASTE

OVER WAR CONTRACTS FRAUDULENT" PRACTICES IN BRITAIN. • By Tclc-raph—Press AbSDcJatiarr—Copyright Australian ah'd'N.Zl''Cable ‘Association. ' ' LONDON," AhgiisV'9.’ V The Select,..Committee 0n... Public Expenditure has completed its third report, which : deals - with the closing stages of the war. It is understood that it reveals -grave wastefulness, and suggests flagrant 'cases of profiteering which deserve prosecution. The Cabinet is investigating the entire position, and it- is anticipated that revised estimates for the fighting services will ho submitted, showing considerable reductionsSir John Hunter, Administrator of Works, testified that he discovered a conspiracy of Government men. and contractors in connection with the aerodromes contract, and had four people arrested. They were liberated after four months on bail, the Lord Advocate, who declined to prosecute, having declared that there was no evidence of their applying moneys to their own use, and that the prosecution would reveal apparent inefficiency and ab senco of control on the part of the Air Ministry’s local representatives. Str John Hunter protested against such a view, and subsequently .vainly urgedthe Lord Advocate to reconsider his decision. Sir John Hunter emphasis od that time-sheets were falsified, and wages were paid to non-existent' persons.

The committee expressed regret at the Lord Advocate’s attitude, and in its report adds; “When cases of negligence or fraud are discovered, action should b© taken against the offenders, regardless of whether they are officials of the department.or not-” ■