THE VOUCHER INCIDENT

Evening Star, Issue 12606, 11 September 1905, Page 7

THE VOUCHER INCIDENT

THE SUSPENDED CIVIL SERVANTS. Messrs Willis, Lareombe, West, and Irandon, the four Cbristcbureh Post Office officials who have figured prominently iu tie voucher case, were formally suspended on Saturday by the Chief Postmaster there, pending inquiry by a special board. At the same time the folio wing letter was handed to Mr Willis:— To Joseph W£us, post officer, Christchurch, —Pursuant to the provisions of section 26 of the CivE Service Act, 1866, you are hereby charged with breach of duty, in that, contrary to the regulations in that behalf and your post officer's declaration, you, on or about the month of July, 1905, at Christchurch, at the request of Mr P. M. B. Fisher, M.H.R., searched the records of Treasury vouchers in the Christchurch. Post Office, and from tbat record l gave him the number and amount of a certain voucher—to wit, voucher No. 15,819, for £76 4s 9d; and also that, In or about the month of July, 1905, at Christchurch, you informed the said F. M. B. Fisher that a voucher for an amount exceeding £7O had pasoed through the Post Office at Christchurch payable to R. J. S. Seddon for reorganising the Defence stores; and also that, on or about the 4th day of August, 1905, at Christchurch, you made and delivered to the said F. M. B. Fisher an affidavit that some time during the year 1904 you, as clerk employed iu the Christeirorch Post Office, saw a voucher for an amount exceeding £7O made out in favor of R. J. S. Seddon, for the reorganisation of Defence stores a.t Wellington; and also that, on or about the same date, you made a duplicate of the original of the said affidavit, and gave it to Mr T. K. Taylor, M.H.R. You are also charged with , a further broach of duty in sending, conjointly with Messrs William John Lareombe, Thomas Walter West, and David-Hobson liundon, in or about the month of August, 1905, the following terrain to Mr T. E. Taylor, M.H.R. :-"We are confident unrestricted public inquiry will establish th© charge. Hope you'will press your motion." You are reqiiired to state in writing wliether you deny the truth of the foregoing charges, and to deliver to the Chief Postmaster at Christchurch' any written defence you deeire to make on or before the 13th September instant. Dated at Wellington this eighth day of September, 1905. W. Gray, Secretary Post and Telegraph Department. # A letter was also handed to Mr West similar to tlie above, but beginning at the words: " That in or about tho month of July, 1905, at Christchurch, you informed the" said F. M. Fisher that a- voucher," etc. Mr Lareombe also received a letter similar to that sent to Willis, but containing an additional charge: " That at some date prior to July he did' inform another person that a voucher passed through, tho Post Office here." Finally, Mr Lundon received a letter in wliich he was charged solely with pending the telegram referred to in the letter to Mr Willis, given in extenso above.