Asleep or Awake?

Manawatu Herald, 4 July 1893, Page 2

Asleep or Awake?

On Friday the following debate took place which is worth noting, both for the peculiarity ot the mistake, and the peculiarity of the reason for not correcting it. The Post, reports : —A debate arose on a question by Mr Eichardson, who said that last year there was a paragraph in the Public Works Statement indicating Jthat Government had reduced the loan expenditure, and that it showed only £296,000, as against £384,000 in the previous year. During the recess it was noticed that the figures in the Public Works Statement had been altered to £891,---000 instead of £296,000. When Mr Kichardson asked for an explanation of the discrepancy the Premier informed the Housa that it was a olerical error, and that when last year the matter was brought up again he wouJSd Kaye corrected it but that he happened to be asleep. Im^f the discussion which followed Mr Soobie Mackenzie yd&citeimfl that the country had been grojsiy deceived, and that the matter shquld be ■ remitted to the Public Accounts - Committee for enquiry. Mr Eolleston characterised the making plL, the correction without Parliamentary authority as a gross breach of privilege. The Speaker explained that he knew nothing of the correction, and that he considered that some indication of its having been made should have been shown in the paper as finally printed. The matter was ultimately dropped.