POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12063, 18 July 1917, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

[Fjiom Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, July 17. LFAYE OF ABSENCE. When a, week's leave of absence was first asked on bolisill" of P. 0. Webb, imprisoned on ;i charge of sedition, it was granted, liui tln■ renewal of leave will be challenged. .Mr Walker moved for a week's leave, for the member for Grey to-day, but Messrs Okey, Pearoo and other members behind the Oovernmeni, benches called " No." The result was that notice had to be given of motion and if will have to go to a division. LAXITY IN CIVIL SF.RYICE. The font roller and Auditor-General, in his report, to Parliament, states that he would bo lading in his duty if ho omitted 1o call attention to th* laxity in relation to sundry departmental workers. He refers to the failure, of fortifying and approving officers to realise tho lad, that the primary responsibility of the accuracy of vouchers is imposed upon them by law. He finds, however, that not only have, essential particulars not always been verified by various departmental officers, but that officers concerned have sometimes been quite unaware of where, when, or whether the. services worn rendered or the goods supplied, and yd. have duly pledged their names to the, accuracy of the claims. During the, period under review there were six departmental prosecutions for defalcations of public moneys, and convictions had been obtained in each case, the, sums concerned ranging from £7 to £ls-1 and totalling £sl fi. Discussing the audit ol patriotic war funds, he remarks that between four hundred ami five- hundred funds wore, approved, and that, with two or three notable exceptions, operations in inaugurating, accounting for and administering the funds have given no serious cause tor complaint. "HEAVY MAIL AND NEEDY FARMERS." Mr John Payne, Grey Lynn's irrepressible member, has propounded sly questions to tho Prime* Minister in connection with his recent visit to Pukekohe. "Will the Premier state for tho information of the House," he asks, "(1) the cost of the special train to Pukekohe -An advertised in tho Auckland newspapers, in connection with the dinner given to welcome the Prime Minister? (2) Did a heavy Pukekohe mail arrivo by coincidence on the night of tho banquet? (3) Was it necessary to divide the Pukekohe train into two parts, in order to carry the heavy Pukekohe, mail, if a heavy Pukekohe mail did arrivo on the night of tho banquet? (4) As tickets for'the dinner were advertised at 15s each, does the Prime Minister think he was doing his duty by tho Dominion and by the Empire'in encouraging the spending of 15s a head on a dinner by needy farmers, who can so ill afford it at this time when wo are. preaching economy to the citizens of this community?"