YET ANOTHER IRREGULAR APPOINTMENT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXI, Issue 1043, 20 July 1894, Page 6

YET ANOTHER IRREGULAR APPOINTMENT.

. In the House of Representatives on July 3, Mr Seddon laid on the table correspondence relating to various Government fire appliances. A long debate occurred regarding the engagement of Captain Hennah from Victoria, and who is related by marriage to the Premier, to inspect fire appliances throughout the colony, seeing that, it is alleged, there are many gentlemen in New Zealand equally competent to make such inspection were it deemed necessary. Regai'ding Captain Hennnh's appointment, we quote the following from Hansard : — Mr Allen asked the Premier if he would tay on the table copies of correspondence with regard to Captain Bennah's engagement. Mr Seddon said there were four or five seperate instructions. If that was what the honourable gentleman niennt, thuso instructions would be produced. There was no appointment. As to the instructions, there would be- no objection whatever to lay them on the table. Mr Allen said that was not what he wanted. He wanted the correspondence leading to the engagement. Mr Seddon said there was no appointment any more than that he was aaked to report. Mr Allen Baid there must surely be correspondence before these instructions were given. Mr Seddon said he was not quibbling. He had told the honourable gentleman what he would do. .Captain -Russell said his honourable friend wanted the .correspondence which led to the appointment of this gentleman — to his being put in a position to receive instructions. - There must have been some correspondence Vhich provided for his

employment by the Government., and consequent on that the instructions had I been given to this gentleman I Mr Seddon had only to repeat that there was no appointment. It appears " appointments " to the civil service have to be made by the Governor-in-Council and to be notified in the Gazette. The Premier gets over the legal difficulty by abstaining from an " appointment " to an office, and, instead, engages persons to perform the duties of the office. This is the course which has been followed in the case of the sergeant-at-arms aud inspector of fire appliances. He maintains that it is perfectly legal and that no law is thereby violated.