The Customs Expert.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43218, 22 August 1907, Page 2

The Customs Expert.

SOME REVELATIONS. TRAVELLING EXPENSES WHEN HE DOES NOT TRAVEL. The Wellington correspondent of the “ Star ” wires that a remarkable piece of information came before Parliament on Friday night, in regardlto a discovery relating to the salary of the Chief Customs Expert (for the colony. When the Customs Estimates came up for consideration, Mr Davey asked the Minister for Customs (Hon. J. A. Miller) whether it was true that the Chief Customs Expert, who was paid £BOO per annum as salary, also 30s per day as travelling allowance, really travelled or not. Mr Davey pointed out that if what he understood was true, the official was better paid than some of the Ministers. The Minister replied that what Mr Davey had said was correct. —(Members: “Oh.”) The salary of £BOO per annum for the Chief Customs Expert with 30s per diem travelling allowance, whether he travelled or not. This had been going on since 1888. The matter was brought under his notice a few days ago, and when he made the enquiry he discovered the fact for the first time. The whole question would be investigated, and some change would be made in the system. A long debate ensued Mr Hogg said that it was a disgrace and a great soandal to the House and the colony. The expert should be made to disgorge. The Hon. J. A. Millar said the only thing which oould be regarded as improper would be the reoeiving of • 30s per day travelling allowance when the expert was in Wellington.

Mr Aitken: “The impropriety is in covering it up.” Mr Millar : “ So far as the officers of the Department are concerned it has not been covered up. It has been put in as the agreement says, and I can say this, that neither I nor my colleagues had the slightest idea of anything of that sort going on until the other day.” Mr Ell said that in 1901 he moved that the salary be reduced by £2OO a year, but his amendment was not pressed. He believed that nobody knew that in addition to the salary of £BOO a year, the officer was drawing £546 travelling expenses as well. It was an extraordinary thing that a payment like that should be made without leaking out. The Premier said that Ministers did not know the individual salaries of all the officers in the Department. In the Canadian system Ministers had to accept far greater personal responsibility in connection with these matters.

Mr Massey urged the Premier to set up a Htrong Parliamentary committee next session to inquire into our system of audit, and, if necessary, to get information from Canada, but let them get rid of a wretched system which made such a thing possible. —Waihi Telegraph.

Apropos of th© discussion that took place on the subject of Mr Shannon’s travelling allowances on Friday night, Mr Massey on Tuesday put a question to the Premier as to the scope and nature of the inquiry that would be made. He said that in view of what had happened the other night, the matter could not be allowed to rest where it was. Public attention had been aroused, and very naturally the public were anxious that the whole matter should be probed to the bottom, and that arrangement should be made to prevent the occurrence of anything of anything of the kind in future, not only in the Customs Department but also in other Departments. The Premier replied that inquiry would be made, but as yet he had not had an opportunity of conferring with his colleagues on the subject. He had already asked for information as to what the position was in regard to such matters throughout the Public Service in the colony. Every officer of every Department would be asked to furnish information. He would indicate in a few days the course it was intended to pursue.