THE AUDIT COMMISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 254, 24 October 1905, Page 2

THE AUDIT COMMISSION.

BENCH AND BAR.

A. FURTHER ALTERCATION.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day. ;The Audit; Commission resumed this morning.

Thomas Francis Grey, Acting-Under-Secretary for Defence,.deposed that between ,1903 and September 30, 1904, the was exclusively the officer Who approved and authorised payments on behalf of the Defence Department. No payment for reorganising defence stores had been made during that period. ; A request to the Commission that the books of the Department should be produced to test the accuracy of witness was refused. ■ .Witness, under cross-examination as to, whether fraudulent authority for payment- might not be obtained, said he could not conceive a fraud happening in connection with . the public service of the colony.

. Mr.. Jellicoe proceeded to refer to recent happenings in New South Wales, and to ask questions thereon, but was ruled out of "order. '

Witness, continuing, said the five officers commanding districts and the defence storekeeper had authority to certify to claims.

During the cross-examination of Mr. Grey by Mr. Jellicoe, the president of the Commission several times rebuked Mr.'Jellicoe; and accused him of wasting the time of the- Commission.

Mr "Jellicoe denied that he was wasting t-me.''

i:' Mr. Justice Denniston, with warnjth, said-the Commission would have to take strong measures if Mr. Jellicoe persisted. " ' ■* Mr. Jellicoe said he was not to be intimidated.

• Judge Denniston said: "The language you use is insulting.to the Court." Mi*. Jellicoe: "No, Your -lohor, the language used tome is."

The Commission ordered Mr. JelHcoe to proceed, with' his cross-examination.

- Mr.. Grey, further cross-examined by Mr. Jellicoe, said he could not say without reference to the books whether Colonel Porter had certified to payments to Captain Seddon of Imperial Tnoneys.

Dr-. Findlay : (for Captain Seddon) intimated that every. voucher and every payment made -to Captain Seddon would be produced to the Court. ._-• Mr. Jefficoe:' "That doesn't r satisfy mc."

The' cross-examination was continued a great length as to the possibilities of evading the. ordinary checks on payment, by fraud or otherwise.