THE VOUCHER INCIDENT

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1459, 18 October 1905, Page 3

THE VOUCHER INCIDENT

- Audit Ihquiry Opens Points Raised by Taylor ami FisiSier By Telegraph.—Preej Association; Wkuinotos, this day. • 'JUDO7S Denniston (chairman), Edward .< and Cooper sat as a comu)iss ; on this, 1 morning to inquire into the working of 1 the Audit Department aud other mattery 1 The proceedings wore merely formal. Tho order of reference was rend. Mr Skerrett said ho was instruoted to appear on bobalf of tho.Deparlinents affected, : tho' Audit, Treasury,' 'Post Office, and Defence.;. Mr Findlny 'appeared for Captain Scddon. ■ \ W..H. Convoy applied to be made a party to th<) inquiry on tho ground that he had personal knowlodgo of the inefficiency ot the audi', and had suffered per- . - aonaily by it. Tlio Commission declined to grant tho • applicttion, • Mr Taylor 'risked liow the (our suspended officials stood with respect to the inquiry ? . Tiie Commission decided that at present, with tho exception; of Mr. ! Willie, those ' gentlemen dtd not seem' lo bo parties. Eo could appear personally or be represented by counsel,' Tho uthcra ir-ighc bo required ns witnesses. , ' Thero was a slight discussion as to ex* ' perise's.- : The Bonch said thny could not go into that just, now. Usim'iy the party to &caso bad to pay his o;vn oxpeuses. Those summoned as 'withessos were. entitled to rea'sonoblo expenses, Mr, Taylor, M.H.11, asltcd if ho ooul J appear'himself. Ho■ .bslipvod ho could produce evidence to; show thai thing' could'happen which the Audit Department could not possibly detect, •' . Tho Bench poiuted out that open to him io appeal- as a witness. ■ Mr Fisher, M.H.R., applied to be mado a party, and was agreed to. v ; He then asked if tho commission hud full powers to seo every document there wa». ■ Tho bench said thoy could hardly go into that yet. Tho ordir of reforenoe would speak for itstlf. Any party to the •proceedings had a right to poruse it, , The Commission then adjourned till Monday, wbou it is understood tho business will proceed at onco. The Points for Investigation, •, Tho following aro the matterd to be investigated by the Audit Inquiry Commission:— (1), Whether a vouchor for payment of nn amount by oheque on" tho Public Account , signed by tho payee, could diaapj pear without any record of its existonco cj payment boinj» left in iho Departmonlii Books or records P. I (2) Whether, in the years ; 1903-01, £ voucher was issued in favour of OaptiJß Seddon for payment to him at OhM church, out of the Public Account, of ■. between f7O and £BO, or, toy other- fl reorganisation of defence stores, I other service? il mi J)id Captain Seddon evor' ■' receive' W BllOll payme.it °r si g n fl o aucli voO^'i- 1 ' ? i- pjUpov'cti'dro given b as to calling wit/icsses and ! tbo ; and productiou of dopartmonUl 0 vouchers relating (o tho subject a ••Hio inquiry. < Powflt.is given to ij persons to appeal' or he :g - the Oommisaioti, (] Tiie (Jiuimissioi is urged to irenco, add to report .not" ;80th OjEtobaf,J.905,:;qbtifl!) l ?j as may hereafter, bo