SERIOUS CHARGES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18265, 7 December 1933, Page 7

SERIOUS CHARGES

NATIVE EXPENDITURE AUDITOR’S ALLEGATIONS ‘ ‘ GRAVE IR.REGUEARITLES’ ’ ERRORS AND DEFICIENCIES (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this clay. The unsatisfactory condition of the accounts of the native land development schemes were commented upon a year ago by the Controller and Auditor-General, and in his latest report, submitted to the House, he repeats the criticism. “I regret to say that there has been no improvement,” states the report, “and errors and deficiencies in expenditure in connection with both developmental schemes and Maori unemployed relief, due to the administrative methods adopted, have become more and more apparent. “The further inquiries have proceeded, the impossibility of being able to exercise any effective check over expenditure rendered it necessary for me to advise the Government from time to time of the position, and to state that 1 could not accept responsibility for the accuracy of the accounts.

“Certain changes in the administrative staff in Wellington have recently been made with a view to improving matters. Local investigations by audit inspectors of the development schemes in the East Coast and Rotorua districts is still proceeding, and, although I am unable at this stage to make a full report, the investigation has proceeded sufficiently far to indicate that there have been grave irregularities in tho accounts, and also in the method of purchasing and disposing of stoves, live stock, etc. “The Native Land Act, Iff!.!, confers unusually wide powers on the Native Minister, and it is in the exercise of these powers that the ordinary methods of administration which prevail in other Government departments have, to a largo extent, been ignored, with the result that departmental control has been weakened, extravagant methods have been adopted, and no proper records of many important transactions am recorded.”