PENCILLINGS FROM PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8240, 8 September 1905, Page 5

PENCILLINGS FROM PARLIAMENT.

The Voucher Episode

{Special to Daily Times.)

Press Gallery, Friday Night,

Tho dreary land debate which could not hold a quorum of members in the House, last night, gave place, this afternoon, to consideration of the Auditor-General's report in regard to the charges made by Mr Fisher, M.H.R., against the Premier's son, Captain Seddon.

The Premier, in moving the motion or series of motions concerning the matter, spoke for half-an-hour. He reviewed the position from his point of view in a temperate and judicial manner, and expressed regret that Mr Fisher's apology was not an unqualified one.

Mr Fisher, who followed the Premier, made the best speech he has yet delivered in the House. He was calm, logical, and dispassionate, and made none of the mistakes that marred some of his other speeches on this question. lie also made some new points, and he made it clear that he does not intend to let the matter drop. " I tell the Premier," he said, " straight across the lloor of the House that the public will not be satislied until he has granted a public inquiry." (Hear! Hear!) " I have no fear," he added. "He cannot break down my evidence, but 1 can smash his into ninepins." Mr Fisher declared that during the recent investigations not one, but twenty, Sneddon vouchers had been brought to light, but the Auditor-General was tied to the month of June, whereas the affidavits .said the year, 1001. Mr Fisher also pointed out that there could be no possibility of mistake in regard to tho Seddon voucher by the postal ollicials, because the Sneddon vouchers were on white paper and the Seddon voucher was on blue paper. He admitted that Captain Seddon had not signed the document. He wanted to know who signed it and where it had gone to. Another point he would like cleared up was why did Captain Seddon sign Treasury vouchers " K. J. Seddon," and other documents "R.J. S. Seddon." It was an ex Iraordinary thing that a man in his ofiieial position should have one signature for one class of documents, and another signature for another class of document. Mr Fisher said he was not done with the matter, and ho would revert to it, and, if necessary, have copies of his speech printed and circulated. lie concluded with a statement, that if a public inquiry were granted, there would be some startling disclosures.

Apart from (he speeches of those who might be termed the principals in the drama (or the comedy), there was little of particular interest in the debate, the matter having already been worn thread-bare.

Mr Taylor created some stir by his statement that within the past few days a Civil servant had told him of the existence of a certain voucher at the time Mr Fisher made his charge, but that such voucher had since been destroyed.

Sir Joseph Ward, in the, course of his speech, mentioned that it was quite a common tiling for men to have two signaturesone signature for cheques and another for other documents.

The debate was continued till 5.30, and resumed after the dinner adjournment, when the galleries were crowded.

Mr Hogg raised a laugh by parodying Macßeth ■--" Is that a voucher I sc3 before me ? Let me clutch it."

Mr McNab's amendment (described as " the grovellingamendment" by one member) was easily carried, and altogether the Premier had matters pretty well his own way.

The Premier's moticyi was as follows : — That the report of the Controller and Auditor-General be adopted ; also,

1. That this House is satisfied that the charge against Captain Seddon, of improperly receiving payment for reorganising defence stores, and against Messrs Collins, Grey and Mcliath, of giving untrue certificates relating thereto, has been completely refuted and should never have been made.

2. That in the case of Captain Suddon this House regrets that the charge against him should have been reiterated after it had been shown to be unfounded.

3. That it be an instruction to the Supervisor of " Hansard " and the Government Priuter to insert in the bound copies of " Hansard " at the end of the speech made by the Member for Wellington, Mr F. M. B. Fisher, in which the charge was first made, and at the end of every debate wherever subsequent reference is made thereto in "Hansard," a copy of the Controller and Auditor-General's report; and that attention be drawn to the said report, and to this resolution, and intimation be given that the said charges have been investigated and refuted.

Mr Me Nab moved to supplement the Premier's motion with the following :— That this House also desires to place upon record an expression of its pleasure at the receipt of the report of the Comptroller and Audi-tor-General, and congratulates the Right Hon. the Premier as Minister for Defence that the charge made by the lion, member for the City of Wellington (Mr F. M. B. Fisher) has been proved to bo unfounded in substance and in fact; and that it has been established that no payment of the nature alleged was ever made.

That the House also recognises with extreme gratification that the certificates given by the Secretary to the Treasury, the Assistant-Secretary to the Treasury, and the Under-Secretary of Defence relating to the alleged wrongful payment to Captain Seddon have been proved to be absolutely correct, and the House desires to congratulate the officers named, and also Captain Seddon, of the Defence Department, upon having successfully vindicated their reputation as officials, and also their reputation of their respective departments from the attack made upon them by the honourable member for the City of Wellington (Mr F. M. B. Fisher).

That Mr Speaker be requested to forward a copy of the resolution and a copy of the Comptroller and Auditor-General's report to the gentlemen against whom the charges were made.

Mr Bedford moved the following amendment, of which Mr Taylor had given notice : —That, in view of the failure of the private inquiry held by the Auditor-General under the restricted order of reference to discover the voucher which Messrs Larcombe, West, Willis and Lundon—four experienced and reputable Civil servants in the Christchurch Post Office —swear they handled, examined, and discussed, this House is of opinion that the present unsatisfactory position of the question in dispute should be met by the immediate appointment of a public enquiry, with full power to investigate, to call for evidence upon oath, to order the production of persons and papers, and to permit the parties concerned, or counsel representing them, to appear.

The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder, Mr Taylor and Mr Fisher having already spoken.

Subsequently Mr Mander rose to second the amendment, but the Speaker ruled that he was too late, as the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones had already moved the previous question.

The Premier's motion, as amended, was put shortly before 2 a.m., and carried by 47 votes to 5. The following voted against it: Messrs Fisher, Taylor, Laursnson, Moss and Bedford.

Mr McNab's amendment was agreed to by ■17 votes to 14. The following voted against the amendment: Messrs Taylor, Fisher, Bedford, Tanner, Hawkins, Duthie, Buchanan, Harding, Massey, Herdman, Jas. Allen, Rhodes, Mander and Moss.