BRITAIN'S SERIOUS FINANCIAL POSITION.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 August 1919, Page 5

BRITAIN'S SERIOUS FINANCIAL POSITION.

ALLEGATIONS or" w=A'srEFUL- ‘ ' NESS ‘AND FRAUD. T ‘ LORD ADVOCATEYS PECULIAR ATTITUDE. Received 11.10 a‘.m_ ’ LONDON, Aug. 9. Mr Chamberland’s discloses on the serious financial situation, have resulted 111 a widespread protest against Government expenditure. _ The House of C.ommons’ Select Committee on public expenditure has completed -its third report, which deals with the closing stages of the war.‘ It is undirstood it reveals grave wastefulness, and suggests flagrant cases of profiteering deserve prosecution_ I T " C‘€lbil’u"( is investigating the entire position It is anticipated the‘ ievised estimates for the fighting‘ services will it»? submitted, showing. considerable reductions. V ‘L ‘ i ' A Sir John Hunter, Administrator of Works, testilied he’ disicoyeréd ‘conspiracy between "Governme-nt‘ men and contractors in connection tvith aerodrome contract, and had four arrested. They were liberated after four months on hail, the Lord Advocate, who declined to prosecute, declaring there Vwas no evidence. They were applying moneys to their own use, and that prosecution would reveal the apparent’ inefficiency and absence of control on the part of the Air Ministr-y’s local representatives. Sir J. Hunter, protesting against such a view subsequently, vainly urged the Lord Advocate to reconsider his decision_ Sir J. Huntcr emphaized the point that time sheets were falsified and wages paid for persons who did not exist The Committee expressed regret at the attitude of the Lord ‘Advocate and added when cases of negligence or fraud ‘v"(‘,l‘o discovered action should be taken against the offenders, regardless of Whether they were officials of the Department or not.