HAPHAZARD METHODS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25718, 14 December 1944, Page 6

HAPHAZARD METHODS

GOVERNMENT CRITICISED

DISPOSAL OF ARMY CARS (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 13. Discussing the report of the' Public Accounts Committee in the House of Representatives to-day, Mr W. J. Poison (Oppil., Stratford) said that the evidence indicated that there had been political patronage, leading to the appointment of men not in the Public Service to important positions. Mr Poison referred to the values of motor vehicles and said the system of selling these vehicles was so haphazard that the valuing officials were appointed by the Government, and the Commissioner of Supply had no control over them. The Commissioner of Supply had stated in evidence that, while the valuers were supposed to be working for him, they were a law unto themselves.

Disposal Board Ignored

Mr Poison quoted figures to show that motor vehicles were under-valued and over-valued, and said that, as a result of this state of affairs, the country had been put to the expense of an inquiry. The Government must be held responsible for these men and the power they had held. They ignored the Disposal Board and a scandal was created. : Mr J. Thorn (Govt., Thames) said that a truck had been valued at £39, when it had new tyres on it wbrth £2OO, and when the person responsible for that valuation was asked bow it was reached he replied that he had followed the system laid down for the making of valuations. The system had been devised by the Disposal Board, on which the motor .trade was heavily re Mr S G nt H d 'Mackley (Oppn. Stratford) said that the investigation should have been made by a judicial tribunal open to the press. Not only were Government and army officials involved, but the reputation of the Government itself Was impugned. The method of inquiry adopted restricted the Government’s culpability. The evidence proved beyond doubt, that there was chaos in Government' circles from the Cabinet downwards. More glaring ex T amples of Government ineptitude were hard to imagine. <

« Spoils to the Victors ”

“The country and the public service is suffering from the Government s policy of spoils to the victors,’’ said Mr Mackley. The Disposal Board was prevented from functioning because of this influence. The evidence shows that the board went out of existence because of a disruptive influence that the Government was unable to control. Mr H. E. Combs (Govt., Wellington West) said that the public servants involved in the investigation by the committee had come out with flying colours. Mr C. M. Bowden (Oppn., Wellington West), who said that the Government had rushed into an orgy of bulk buying, had just begun to speak when the debate was interrupted by the tea adjournment. -