LARGER FRAUDS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19700, 4 August 1938, Page 18

LARGER FRAUDS

EMPLOYMENT FUND YEAR’S IRREGULARITIES PUBLIC MONEY THEFTS CONTROLLER’S REPORT (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. An outstanding feature of the schedule of irregularities in connection with public moneys, which the Auditor and Controller-General included in his annual report to Parliament, relates to the Employment Promotion Fund. "I must again call attention,” states this officer, “to many instances where relief recipients have secured excess relief from moneys of the Employment Promotion Fund. During the year no less than 3257 recipients, an increase of 1296 over the number recorded in the previous year, fraudulently received relief to which they were not entitled, and the majority of these irregular payments were obtained through their having made false statements.” It is'shown that the total amount involved was £19,778, and that proceedings were instituted in 694 cases involving a sum of £12,368. Convictions obtained totalled 637. Fines to.ailing £7423 were inflicted, and costs amounting to £364 were imposed and the restitution of £ll3l was ordered by the court. It is stated that effective action is being taken to recover from 2551 cases involving a sum of £6995, of which a substantial reduction has already been achieved. Discussing the position in general, the Controller and Auditor-General expresses the opinion that there were no large losses of public stores, but the position with regard to public moneys is not so satisfactory, as ,-during the year there were 24 cases coming under the notice of the Audit Office which involved the theft of public moneys by departmental officers. “Notwithstanding, however, the numerical increase in the irregularities, I am of the opinion that the general accounting system of the Government may be considered satisfactory, and that a high standard has been maintained throughout the service,” he adds.