Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1231681
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INQUIRY URGED'
BY MR. BRUCE
INTO MR WHIDDON'S
STATEMENTS ,
SYDNEY, Thursday.
Tlfe Prime Minister (Mr. Bruce) in a letter' to tho New South Wales Premier, Mr. Bavin, urges a thorpugh inq'uiry Unto charges against taxation officers made by Commissioner Whid-
don in his evidence before the Royal Commission^ oit Fcder-nJ Constitution.
Mr. Bruce writes that 'in this matter Mr. Whiddon soenls to have been lacking in judgment in accepting without corroboration' a charge made by an asspciato of'criniinals." .There is also a suggestion of dereliction «if duty. This, combined willi Mr. Whid d'on's tendency to discuss with the press the internal administration of the department, ;and the irresponsible criticism which 'he directed against the Commonwealth Income Tax la.v, seems.,1o indicate that Mr. Whiddon is not satisfactorily placed as Deputy Commissioner of- Federal Taxation in New South Wales.
Air. Whiddon, in his report to the Assistant-State Treasurer, stated that his evidence was truthfully based. Mr. Whiddon added that ho discover- ed sufficient to justify hiríi in deleting from the staff several, concern inn; whom he had unmlslakcablc evid- ence, that they had been guilty ol malpractice.
The letter adds, "When' news of re- trenchment reached the iifUl floor, presided over iby the minister-chaos ensued. Taxpayers' papers were litter- ed on the' ground or thrown on top of presses, -while-electric lights were d,4ttnaged 'or destroyed. This act, of sabotage was disgraceful. ?} was glad' When, the last of'the officers; q,f> flic, department concerned^ left., /Hie de- partmental atmosphère has slnco been pure and undisturbed until ,t\vo months ago, when, I discovered there '.had been a'recrudescence, on a minor scale, of' previous malpractice. J
.round ^that returns.-had ,uga)n been, abstracted. My investigations result-, »>d hi three officers sending in their resignations, twio Federal "officers and
one State officer."
Mr. Whiddon expressed the opinion '.hat it would be In the best interest of the department to allow the matter to drop, as fui thor inquiries and de- velopments would make the average taxpayer lose the confidence which lie had reposed in the department.