B.—l [Pt. ll].

STATEMENT OF IRREGULARITIES IN CONNECTION WITH PUBLIC MONEYS AND STORES— continued. Post and Telegraph Department— continued.

The foregoing statement is presented pursuant to the requirements of section 89 (2) (c) of the Public Eevenues Act, 1926, and I regret to record an increase in the number of defalcations by departmental officers during the year as compared with the cases reported in my annual reports for several years past. As mentioned previously in this report, there were no large losses of public stores, but the position with regard to public moneys was not so satisfactory, as during the year there were twenty-four cases coming under the notice of the Audit

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Nature of Irregularity. involved Action taken, and Result. IRREGULARITIES BY PERSONS NOT DEPARTMENTAL OFFICERS. £ S. d. Theft of postal packet .. .. .. 103 0 0 I Police investigation unsuccessful. No loss to Department. Fraudulent negotiation of a pay warrant ■ .. 0 12 0 Police investigation unsuccessful. No loss to Department. Theft of money and registered letters by burglars 21 15 9 Police investigation unsuccessful. Fraudulent withdrawal from PostOffice Savings- 18 0 0 Police investigation unsuccessful. bank Theft of money by burglars.. .. .. 15 6 3 Offender sentenced to imprisonment for two years, with hard labour. Thefts from public-call boxes and stamp-vending 5 12 4 Police investigations resulted in one offender being machines convicted and discharged and one being sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Recovery of 15s. 8d. made. Theft of money, travelling tickets, and stores by 16 13 (i Police investigaton unsuccessful. burglars Loss of registered letter from mail-hag .. 35 0 0 Police investigation unsuccessful. Fraudulent withdrawal from Post Office Savings- 2 10 0 Police investigation unsuccessful. bank Theft of money by burglars.. .. .. 5 0 6 Police investigation unsuccessful. Alteration of receipt .. .. .. 0 10 0 Police investigation unsuccessful. Theft of money by burglars.. .. .. 8 12 9 Police investigation unsuccessful. Theft of money by burglars.. .. .. 2 4 3 Police investigation unsuccessful. Fraudulent manipulation of pay warrant .. 0 10 0 Police investigation unsuccessful. No loss to Department. Loss of postal packet .. .. .. 10 0 0 Police investigation unsuccessful. Theft of mail by burglars .. .. .. Not stated Police investigation not yet completed. Payment of State Advances Corporation voucher 20 10 1 Offender admitted to probation for twelve months, to wrong person No loss to Department. Primary Products Marketing Department. IRREGULARITY BY DEPARTMENTAL OFFICER. Misappropriation of departmental moneys .. ] 42 16 7 Restitution ordered. Offender admitted to probation for eighteen months. Public Trust Office. IRREGULARITY BY DEPARTMENTAL OFFICER. Misappropriation of stamping and registration 1 10 0 Disciplinary action taken. Recovery made, fees Railways Department. IRREGULARITIES BY DEPARTMENTAL OFFICERS. Theft of registered letters from mail-bags on a 14 4 0 Offender sentenced to six months' imprisonment, goods-train Loss to Post and Telegraph Department £14 4s. Misappropriation of departmental moneys .. 53 6 9 Offender dismissed. Recovery made. Admitted to probation for a term of two years. Loss of cash issued for payment of wages .. 10 18 3 Amount recovered from officers responsible. No loss to Department. Misappropriation of departmental moneys .. 160 18 2 Offender committed to Supreme Court for sentence. No loss to Department. Loss of cash issued for the payment of wages .. 6 7 6 Police investigations unsuccessful. No loss to Department. Misappropriation of departmental moneys .. 0 1 10 Recovery of Is. 4d. made. IRREGULARITIES BY PERSONS NOT DEPARTMENTAL OFFICERS. Theft of money by burglars.. .. .. 6 16 1 Offender sentenced to two years' hard labour. Theft of money by burglars.. .. .. 0 5 0 Police investigation unsuccessful. Theft of money by burglars.. .. .. 0 10 0 Police investigation unsuccessful. Theft of money by burglars.. .. .. 0 10 0 Police investigation unsuccessful. Theft of cheques and cash by burglars .. 255 6 3 Police investigation proceeding. Theft of money by burglars.. .. .. 0 10 0 Police investigation unsuccessful. No loss to Department.