ACCEPTANCE OF BRIBES

Southland Times, Issue 25746, 9 August 1945, Page 4

ACCEPTANCE OF BRIBES

MINISTER QUESTIONED ABOUT POLICY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 8. Reference to court proceedings at Auckland was made in a question asked in the House of Representatives today by Mr R. M. Algie (Nat., Remuera), who wanted to know if the attention of the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, had been directed to newspaper reports of certain proceedings before the Supreme Court at Auckland, in which it was stated that certain inspectors employed by the State had met recently in conference and had adopted provisionally or otherwise a practice relative to the acceptance of bribes and the payment of them into the Consolidated Fund. Did the Minister consider that such a practice, if put into operation, would be consistent with 'the due and proper conduct of public affairs, and, if not, what action did the Minister propose to take for preventing the growth of such a practice? Mr Sullivan asked leave to answer the question immediately. Mr A. J. Murdoch (Nat., Marsden) said he had a question bearing on the same matter and was given leave to present it before the Minister replied. He asked for a return showing particulars of inspectors, with their salaries, employed in checking breaches of the Rationing Regulations, the date on which the inspectors’ conference was held, any ministerial or departmental instructions in relation to the alleged bribery system, the scale of the tariff of the alleged bribes in relation to major or minor offences and the total amount of money paid into the Public Account in respect of alleged bribes. CONTROLLER’S DENIAL Mr Sullivan said he had communicated with the Rationing Controller, who had made a categorical denial that any such instructions had been given. The Minister said he proposed to make a full statement on the matter later.

Mr F. W. Doidge (Nat., Tauranga): Why didn’t the controller appear at the trial and do that? Mr Sullivan said that as far as he knew all the witnesses called by the court had appeared. He had complete and absolute confidence in the controller. It was possible there might have been some discussions between the

Auckland rationing inspectors regarding the possibility of using those means. Mr G. H. Mackley (Nat., Masterton): A new technique.

Mr Sullivan said he was prepared to go further when he got fuller information. He would make a statement next Tuesday. Mr D. C. Kidd (Nat., Waitaki): Have the inspectors been dismissed? Mr Sullivan said they had been suspended. Their employment or dismissal had nothing to do with him. That was a matter for the Public Service Commissioner and he would not be interfered *with.