AUDIT COMMISSION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10496, 24 October 1905, Page 2

AUDIT COMMISSION.

(Per Press Association.) ; WELLINGTON, this day. The Audit Commission rammed this morning. Thomas Francis Grey, Acting-Under-Secretary for Defence, deposed that between 1903 and September 30, 1904, lie was exclusively the officer wlixi approved and authorised payments on behalf of the Defence Department. No payment for reorganising defence stores had been made during that period. A ifcVjuest jto tine Commission tliat tlie books of the Department .should be produced to test the accuracy of witness ' was ' refused. Witness under cross-ex- . amiiiatiou as to whether fraudulent authority for payment might be obtained, said he could not conceive a fraud happening m connection with the public ; service of tlie colony. Mr Jellicoe proceeded to refer to recent happenings m New South Wales and to ask questions \ thereon, but was ruled out of order. ' Witness, continuing, said tlie five officers commanding districts and tlie defence ' storekeeper had authority to certify to claims. [ During the cross-examination of Grey [ by Mr Jellicoe, the president of the Com. ( mission several times rebuked Mr Jellicoe and accused him of wasting the time , of the Commis*sion. Mr Jellicoe denied that he was wasting time. Judge Dennistoii, with warmth, said the Commis- , sion would liave to take strong measures ' if Mr Jellicoe persisted. Mr Jellicoe said I he was not intimidated. Judge Denniston said : "Tlie language you use is iusuiting to the Court." Mr Jellicoe : "No, . your Honor, the language used to me is." , The Commission ordered Mr Jellicoe to ; proceed with his cross-examination. Grey, further cross-examined by Mr ' Jellicoe, said he could not .say without reference to the books whether Colonel ' Porter certified to the payments to CapL tain Seddon of Imperial moneys. , Dr. Findlay (for Captain Seddon) inti- ' mated that every voucher and every pay- , ment made to Captain Seddon would be ; produced to the Court. Mr Jellicoe: Oh, that doesn't satisfy [ me. [ The cross-examination was continued ; at great length as to the possibilities of , evading ordinary checks on payment by j fraud or otherwise.