WAR OFFICE SCANDAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1482, 16 June 1905, Page 2

WAR OFFICE SCANDAL.

STARTLING DISCLOSURES. WHOLESALE ROBBERY. FORTUNES MADE BY SWINDLING PUBLIC. By Tolegraph—Press Association —Copyright Received 9.28 p.m., Juae 15. London, June 15. Sir William Butler’s report on sales and rofunds to contractors in connection with tho South African war has boon issued. Mr Arnold Forster’s preface declares that furtbor investigation is necessary ; hence matters affecting individuals mentioned in tho report uro still sab judiee. Several whose conduct is impugned have not yet been hoard. Tho report contains startling disclosures, a'oo grave indictments, and emphasises tho evils of divided responsibility and joint administration, wherein Colonel Morgan, Director of Supplies, was a predominant partner with or over Colonel Hopwoll. A month after a letter arrived at Pretoria to roliovo him, tho report declares, an extensive loss or destruction of documents occurred.

It censures tho absence of regular mothods of peaco administration for disposing of surplus stock. It declares in ono instance they wore selling to tho bduio contractor foruge on tho one hand, and buying from him the samo artielo or of a similar description on the other hand. Moyer, formerly connected with cold storage, waß a daily gainer in oats alone of £2OOO. Colonel Morgan’s brother was Meyer’s servant, and agent for mushroom companies, and as a salaried sorvant favored the firms.

The evidence fills 500 pages of a Blue Book.