The Voucher Mystery.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8066, 17 August 1905, Page 2

The Voucher Mystery.

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, August 16. With reference to the Press Association from Christchurch appearing in yesterday evening's paper relating to the possibility, of the alleged Seddon voucher having been made out in Christchurch, and afterward-* refused by the Audit Department, it is officially pointed out that " such a contention is absurd, and from-the course followed in respect to vouchers it is absolutely impossible ;. and for the following reasons : —The Under - Secretary for Defence would have to create, the vouchers and certify to the service performed. Before the alleged voucher could reach the Christchurch. office at all, it would first have to go to the Head Post Office, Wellington, also to be certified to by the Defence Department.in Wellington. It would then have to pass the Audit, and .if refused it would not leave Wellington, If it were sent on to Christchurch that would prove that it had passed the Audit and had gone on to the Treasury in Wellington, before being sent to the Christchurch Post Office."

The official statement goes on to say : " Further when Captain Seddon states in his declaration . that he never performed any such services, surely that is sufficient to show that he never in any way claimed on account of .such services, seeing it would be a claim from hiro upon which the voucher would be formed. Anyone having any knowledge of the working of the Civil Service must know that the only way a voucher could be sent to the Christchurch Post Office, would be from a particular Department, the case in point being the Sneddon voucher from tho Eailway Department. Technically and in Civil Service parlance a document is not a voucher until it is paid."