THE VOUCHER FICTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1562, 19 September 1905, Page 2

THE VOUCHER FICTION.

GOVERNMENT DECIDE TO H&VE

PUBLIC ENQUIRY.

THE AUDIT QUEBTION.

(Per Press Association.) W®llington, last night, The Premier has banded tho following memorandum to the press for publication : “ The enquiry to be held by Sir James Prendorgast and Mr H, 8. Wardoll is the one provided for in cases where public servants have transgressed the Civil Servioe Act and regulations, and they have to report whether or not the postal officers at Christchurch transgressed the rules and regulations, and to make such recommendations in respect thereto as they consider tho ciroumstauoes merit.

.. “Another and very serious matter has cropped up. One of the postal officials, in bis 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 oomplote oheck on the payment of public moneys, and Mr Fisher, M.H.R., in bis letter to the Prime Minister, also demurs to the audit and its system and the investi* gations, and says that there is a possibility that the vouoheakiileged to be seen by the postal officials might still exist. To set tho matter at rest once and for all, and more particularly as to whether our audit system and the chocks upon the payment of publio money is complete or otherwise, it was decided by the Government early this evening to appoint three judges to hold an enquiry, the enquiry to be publio, and all parties to be represented by counsel if they so desired, the enquiry to take plaoe as early as possible,”