ABUSES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2163, 20 August 1907, Page 2

ABUSES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE

(Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, August .9. The fact that the salary and expenses of tho Customs Expert have been wrapped up for so many years in the “contingencies” itom has led to a very general expression of opinion that it is high time wo adopted the Canadian plan of showing tho public expenditure. Though no blame for anything not within the strict lettei of the law appears to be attachable to Mr. Shannon, it is now freely stated in Wellington that there are many other cases in the Civil Service where travelling and other allowances have been illegally drawn Indeed, it is stated that within tho last three months three Civil servants have been discharged for drawing aUow«nces to which they were not entitled. Unc man, it is stated, drew for the maintenance of a horse until it was ascertained that lio did no* possess a horse, and, furthermore, did not need one for tho performance of Ins duties. Apropos, it is freely stated that iecontly the Audit Department stuck up the “house allowance of certain Ministers because one of the Mn terial houses was available for then residence, though otherwise It is stated that some members of the Ministry, to thou* credit bo it saia, promptly agreed to a deduc um r thoir allowance rather than have any suspicion of illegality, even thougl they were not “in residence for the period claimed for.