INTEGRITY IN THE CIVIL SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 198, 10 May 1918, Page 5

INTEGRITY IN THE CIVIL SERVICE

SEVERE STRICTURES BY ENGLISH JUDGE. Severo strictures on a Government Department wero mado at the Old Eailey recently by Mr. Justice Atkin in sentencing to four months' imprisonment Alfred H. Gibbins, 51, who had been foitndguilty nf communicating official information to a firm in Switzerland. Tho accused had beon sent to Switzerland by the Ministry of Munitions to malco inquiries regarding machine- tools. Later another official wag sent, and it was (he report of tho latter that the accused was Bending to a Mr. Schmidt in Switzerland. In tho letter intercepted by Hie censor the accused suggested tho formation of a syndicate, and that he should ho appointed tho English representative. After these facts had come to light Gibbins was given it post in the Food Production Department. Tho Judge severely commented on this, and asked Mr. Stevens, an official of Iho Ministry nf Munitions, whether he thought there was no harm in tho Fnml'Production Department having n disboneurnblo servant. The official replied that the "Food Department had all the information given them. In passing sentence, the Judge said he tool; an entirely rtilTeverit view from that which was appnTUitVy taken by tho heads ot the Department, certainly from that taken by Mr. Stevenc, and, according to him, by Sir A. Herbert. Tho Eood Production Department gavo Gibbins a jiflsHion at an Increased salnry amounting t(, £2 a day and travelling expenses. That cour«e of conduct seemed to make one des-pnir of maintaining a proper standard of commercial integrity in Government Departments-. It was very difficult to see how it could possibly bo justified. Tt was high time it was understood that parsons in theso days cannot violate tho rules laid down for (ho protection of the Stato merely in tho interests of their own pockets.