OPPOSITION SUPPORTS THE ACTION TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 February 1949, Page 5

OPPOSITION SUPPORTS THE ACTION TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT

Mr. Churchill told the House that he did not think any party issues ’’"were involved. The Conservative Party accepted the tribunal’s report. “There is no difference between the Government and the Opposition on the steps which the Prime Minister took to deal with the lamentable matters with which it was confronted, and there is no suggestion that the Labour Government has not done its best to sustain our standards of decent behaviour,” he said. UNDESIRABLE ELEMENT Mr. Attlee said the tribunal’s report revealed the existence in the country of people whose business methods were deplorable and whose word could not be relied on. In every country there had always been a fringe of disreputable persons hanging on the outskirts of the business world, but it would be fantastic to draw a general indictment against British businessmen on a basis of these revelations. “I am certain that the methods or practices of certain individuals as revealed in the inquiry will be condemned by the great majority of businessmen, and that they will do everything in their power to maintain the high reputation of this country for integrity and honesty in commercial matters.” Mr. Attlee said it had been established clearly beyond doubt that whis-

perings and allegations of widespread corruption in the uublic service had no foundation. “The high reputation of the British civil service has not only not suffered as a result of the inquiry, but has emerged from it as firmly established as ever. We may well regret that there should even be two public men falling below the standard expected of them, but it is a matter for just pride that in so farreaching and searching an examination so little should have been found amiss. I am convinced, as I have always been, that the public administration and the public life of this country stands unrivalled for its high standards of service and incorruptibility.” Mr. Attlee added that, neither Ministers nor senior officials should deal with individual cases other than through the regular machinery, or accept hospitality from an individual to whom they would not want to be under an obligation. CONTACT MEN Regarding contact men. Mr. Attlee said that many of these men were perfectly honest in performing the same kind of professional function as a tax consultant, but there also seemed to be another kind who were at pains to become acquainted \ Ministers and offered for gain to n-.:' people m touch with them.