THE VOUCHER ROW.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1532, 14 August 1905, Page 3

THE VOUCHER ROW.

MORE OF THE DISCUSSION. Daring the discnssioD in Parliament on the “ great” voucher subjeot, the Minister for Publio Works expressed considerable scepticism as to the alleged affidavits. »Why,” he said, " there may be only blank sheets of paper in that packot.” (Laughter.) Mr Fisher : If that is so. I will resign. Mr Hall-Jones devoted his attention to

Mr Bedford's references to the Soathern meetings of the New Liberal party. So far as be could see, the public was sick

of the oourse taken by the four members. •• Why,” he went on,“ their meetings in Invercargill broke up in such a disorderly way that there was no time to take up a collection.” (Laughter.) Mr Bedford: Wnat about the meeting on Friday night ? Mr Hall-Jones said that at Dhnedin the bon. member, although in his own city,did not get oat more than about three words before he was assailed by cries of “ Apologise 1 apologise 1 apologise 1” He quoted from a report of the meeting, and ridiouled the speech made by Mr Bedford on that

occasion. Mr Fisher : Now tall us about the next meeting. Mr Hall-Jones said that as for the other meeting at Dunedin that was not a puplio meeting; it was only a private meeting. In concluding, be urged that the House should not waste time over such “ frivolous questions.” He compared Mr Fisher and his party to the octopus vulgaris, and said that they were now tryiog to cover themselves io the dirt which they had been

stirring up. _ The Minister for Customs also spoke. ■t Why, I was in public life six years before Mr Bedford was born, end before Mr Taylor ami Mr Fisher were in loDg trousers,” said Mr Mills ; and having delivered himself of this information he sat down. Mr Duthie, whilst not seeing any reason for granting an indemnity to the civil ser» vants, urged that the charge should be “ There is no ehargß,” ejaculated several Government members in chorus. “That Is childish nonsonse,” was the reply of Mr Duthie. “ If I was a, Minister, and had suoh a charge banging over me, I would Here Mr Duthie found himself lost for words, and after the burst of laughter which ensued had subsided, ho said the Government should toe the mark. If the charge was proved to be a trumped-up one, the members making it should go out of publio life. Mr Fisher, in reply, said it was evident that tho authorities refused to disclose any thing about the payment. Then, ho said, there must be something wrong about it. It had been argued that if bis charges were correct, then the Treasury officials must be guilty of complicity. That would be a very serious charge to make. But there were on the Speaker’s table statements sworn on oath that there had been a parent made to Captaio Seddon of between £7O and £BO, Those three men had made that sworn statement. Mrßeddon: There are throe of them, Fisher: I said there were a number. ' Several Government-supporters : You said there were throe. Mr Fisher: Well, I will not say throe, I will say a number. (Laughter.) I eay that if tho Treasury officials are not aware of that, there is a bigger swindle going or than we imagine. An hon. member : Won’t you trust the House ? Mr Fishor : I think it is possible that J may be able to do so in a few days, so tho those who have made the affidavits mai also do so. As to the Sneddon voucher, admit caDdidly, as I did before, that I wa wrong; but I believe I can hit upon thi number of the other voucher. But if wore to give the number, there would be the same refutation over this as over the lost. (Laugbtor from the Government bon'ohop.) In the letter addroased to tbo Speaker I bavo mado a epeoifio statement. Mr Seddon : When was it paid ? Wbat month ? Mr Fisher : You give me the vouohors. (Laughter.) You set up a tribunal with authority to search for vouchers within six months. That is all I ask. (Interruption.) You give me the tribunal, and you’ll get tbe number. Mr Taylor: The FremieiT knows where the document is, all right. Mr Fisbor: I know the " where," but I don’t know tho " why." Mr R. McKenzie i Do you know the '< when " ? Mr Fishor: I know pretty noac tbe “ when.” "Mr R. MoKenzio; Will you let tho House have it ? Mr Fishor: I know these men very well, and I believe they will have the | ooutags to give the information to the House,, Mr Seddon : Tho men may have made the Bame mistake as you about Sneddon. Mr Fisher replied that they were not mistaken. . Mr Taylor: Hear, bear. Mr Fisher said the one voucher was mado out in the name of J. end A. Anderson, end was for stores for the Addington railway workshops j tbe other voucher was made out fer reorganising defence stores. He (Mr Fisher) had seen these these men einoe, and they m a a . ..

absolutely certain that they woto not oor.» founding this vouoker with tho Sneddon vouchor. If their sworn s'atomonts wero to bo refuted, they should bo refuted on oath, and not by more statements made by cflloors of adopavtmont. No doubt those offioors woro conscientious, but no ono would ox- j pact thorn to make a statomont advorso to the Government.

Cries of “ Oh ” and 11 Shame ” from the Government side of the House. Mr Fisher said there was no shame about it. “ This,” bo added, “is oortainly it bombshell in the comp.” Ho repeated I that it was not fair for tho Prime Ministor to ask a departmental officer to make a report in such a caso. The motion was lost on a division. I The result of tho disoussion in the , afternoon did not appear in tho ovoning I paper, and tho publio, thinking the question might bo still under disoussion in the I evening, trooped up to tho House in I I orowds. Long beforo tho hour of resuming I I tho portioo and the entrance lobby of tho I House of Representatives were blocked j with an anxious orowd of more or I I loss excited men and womoD. Tho gal- | lories wore quickly filled to overflowing. I Orderlies and mossongors hod a bad time | of it. Members also were worried with I applications for tickets. It was the joke I of tho session, for, of couroo, tbo I Fisher inoident had boon ended for the I day two hours previously.

By the Bteamer Essex, which loft Sydney I for Auokland on Wednesday evening, Mr IJ. 8. MoOoneohy is a passenger. Ho is I visiting this colony with the objeol of promoting diroot trade with Manohester. There is a possibility of Mr MoOonorohy addressing a meeting at tho Auckland Chamber of Oommeroe on his arrival at that port. Persons whoso business in any , way interests them with Liverpool and Manohester or west coast of England ports, may commnnioate with Mr McConechy at I tho office of Messrs Arthur H. Nathan, I Auokland.