THE STORY OF A PENNY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11657, 13 August 1898, Page 5

THE STORY OF A PENNY.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. OFFICIAL RED TAPE. [From Odr Correspondent.! WELLINGTON, August 12. The Colonial Treasurer informed the House the other day that the AuditorGeneral was the “ worry of his lite,” and an evidence that this was not altogether the language of exaggeration is provided by bulky correspondence that was laid on the table of the House to-day dealing with a ■ dispute regarding the magnificent sum of one penny, more accurately the proper obliteration of a penny stamp on a receipt for a payment from a Government Department. The'disputes dates from June, 1897, and arose out of the refusal of the AuditorGeneral to pass a voucher for the payment of £2 15s to Mr Perham on the ground that the receipt was> unstamped. ■ The Treasury ■ then substituted another receipt for the original dating it back. This the Auditor« General refused to accept on ,the ground that there, was no provision enabling the Government to remit a penalty incurred under the Stamp Act. The Cabinet then appears on the scene, morally backing up the Treasury. The Audit Office remains obdurate, however, and urges the Stamp Department to carry out its duly. The next step is taken by’Mr Perham, who forwards a stamped receipt, and expresses the opinion that the action of the . Audit Office is exceedingly vexatious and a piece of childish red tape. The AuditorGeneral takes this expression of opinion very seriously, holding that a temporary employee of the Government has been countenanced in holding up the Audit Office" to the contempt of members of the public. The matter was considered in the Cabinet in September last, when the documents bore the following memorandum : “ This appears to be getting farcical.—A. J. Cadmaa.” The farce, however, went through many more acts and scenes. . The correspondence fluctuated from the Cabinet to the Treasury Department, thence to the Mines Department, off to the Auditor-General again and back to the Treasurer, who in despair sent it to the Solicitor-General with the request “ Kindly look through these papers and advise.—R.J.S.” Mr Reid advised accordingly that the Auditor-General was right in his view of the law, and that the only legal way out of the trouble was to pay a fine of £lO to the Deputy Commissioner of Stamps, who could then stamp the receipt. The closing letter of the correspondence is one from the Auditor-General to the Minister of Mines under date June 25, 1898, submitting the correspondence for his consideration, and expressing an opinion of its importance in the interests of the public service. To this is apjpended a memorandum by the Secretary of Mines recommending that the papers should be filed, as he sees no good result to be gained by pursuing th« correspondence.