BREACH OF FAITH

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1592, 24 October 1905, Page 3

BREACH OF FAITH

THE AUDIT CHARGE.

(Ftt Press Association.) Wellington, last night, The report of the inquiry re tho charge against the Christchurch Post-office officials was laid on tho table of the Honse Ibis morning. Tho Commissioners find that Willis, Laroombe, and West commit"

ted a gravo broaob of regulation No. 44 of the Post and Telegraph Regulations, which provides that no offiocr may make publio any official communication which he may receive. Wi)h regard to the fidelity declaration made by Willis when be entered the service, tho Commissioners aro inclined to tho opinion that a broach thereof had not been established. The evidence disclosed that Willis was throughout the prime mover in the matters complained of, and tho Commissioners venture to express an opinion that Willis' offences I aro much more serious than those of the ether officers. When the report ro the Christohurch postal officials wore laid on the table, Sir I Joseph Ward, in answer to Mo33rs Fisher I and Taylor, said no deoision had yet been made by the Government. Ho moved that the report lie cu tho table. Mr Bedford moved an amendment that I the House directs tho Government to do- I ride the mon’s fate immediately. Mr Fisher denied that those officers bad I

broken their declarations. He asked for

the punishment of Williams, Ibc operator •j who had intervened, offending equally with the others. He also urged that copies of tho regulations were until this case too aoaroa for the offioers to understand thorn. Ho was agreosbly surprised at the impartiality of the Commissioners, but objecsed to the political character of the questions asked the officers implicated. He thought tho men were entitled to a prompt decision by the Government and recognition of the fact that haviDg played their part in a big fight their evidence remained unshaken.

Mr' Seddon thought it wa3 a cate of M save me from my friends.” Tho facts were that the whole of tho officers ad" milted they had brokea tho regulations. These circumstances required considera- . lion, and it was not desirable to inflame the mind of Ministers before deciding. They had, moreovar, boen too busy to touch it. Furthermore, another investigation was pending. Under such circumstances the references made in the House bordered on tho indecent. Language failed to characterise the conduct of Mr Fisher in referring to tbo officers’ conduct as " share in a big fight.” The amendment was lost on the voices. The debate was interrupted by the lun- . cbeon adjournment. The Commissioners consider that Larcombe, in giviDg information to his wife as to the alleged Ssddou vouoher, acted unwittingly, and without intention that it should be made public, and that in other respects ho was influenced by Willis. Similar comments are made in respect to the oharges against West. The Commissioners do not. think Lundon’s oonduct amounted to a breach of the regulations or fidelity declaration. The Commissioners suggest: (1) That tho fidelity declaration now in use in the Post and Telegraph Department requires amendment; (2) that a fidelity declaration be made by every publio servant who enters the service ; (3) from the evidence given we are convinced that some officers of tbo public service are of opinion that all members of Parliament are entitled to obtain from the officers of any Government department information which would not I 1 be given lo ordinary individuals. The im- '*■ prsssion should at once be removed, and regulations made setting forth how, from whom, and under what conditions members of Parliament may obtain information from Departments of State.