THEFTS OF FUNDS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1932, Page 3

THEFTS OF FUNDS

OFFER BY THE AUDIT OFFICE.

TO PROVIDE A SAFEGUARD.

WELLINGTON, August 21

As a safeguai'd against the employment in positions o- trust of .unreliable officers, the Audit Office is prepared to - assist local bodies in selecting men of (proved qualifications, according to • a statement by the Prune Minister, lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes, yesterday when he referred to the number of instances of misappropriation of funds by officers employed by local authorities. In recent case, it was pointed out, the > official concerned had previously pleaded guilty of theft when employed--by another local body, '.snim< 1 believe,” .said Mr Forbes, “that members of local authorities.} are alive to the necessity of exercising great care when appointing officers to positions involving the custody ■ and control of public moneys, there are oc-, casions upon which information is not available to the members, and that if ,-they were in possession of further facts they might come to a different decision. -

‘“lt may not be generally known that .the Audit Office, as it has frequently done in the pa|t, is prepared, to assist local bodies in their selection of . officers for positions of trust, if lists of the applicants for positions are referred-to it prior to any appointment being made The Aiidit, Office’s. assistance would be given, .not by recqminen ditag any. ihdfvidual for the. .position requiring to he fil.ed, but by choosing from a/list of applicants referred to it by a local body the;names of\three or,four applir cants possessing the necessary qualifications for the position and submitting those names to the local body for its final selection. “It is evident that it would be to the advantage of local bodies when making appointments -to avail tlienir selves of the. Audit Office’s knowledge of the applicants’ qualifications, as in such circumstances they would at least be. safeguarded against . appointing, individuals who through lack of experience or for ahy other reason are un-suitable-for. appointment-”•