THAT VOUCHER.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11666, 19 September 1905, Page 5

THAT VOUCHER.

A Public Inquiry to be Held.

(Per United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, September 18

• The Premier has handed the following memorandum to the Press for publication. —

"The inquiry to be held by Sir James Prendergasfc and Mr H. S. Wardell is the one provided for^ in cases where public servants have transgressed the Civil Service Act and regulations, and they have to report whether or not the postal officers at Christchurch transgressed tho rules and regulations in respect .thereto as they conaider the circumstances merit. Another and very serious matter has cropped up. One of the postal officials, in his defence, practically alleges that the audit system, if judged by what took place at the late investigation, is defective, and. leaves it open for fraud to be perpetrated, and inferentially points to the want of a* complete check on the payment of public money, and 'Mr Fisher, M.H.R., in his letter to the Prime Minister, also demurs to the Audit and its 'system and the investigation's, and says that there is a possibility that the voucher alleged to be seen by the postal officers might still exist. To set the matter at rest for once and all, and more particularly- as to whether our audit system and the checks upon the payment of -.public .money .is complete or otherwise-, it was decided by the Government early; this v 'Qvening to appoint three Judges to. hold. -an inquiry, , the inquiry to be publie,-ajid all. parties to be represented by counsel; if they -B<*, 'desired,. the inquiry to take •plade jTs'early asf possible:"