The Voucher Inquiry.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3605, 2 December 1905, Page 2

The Voucher Inquiry.

THE JUDGES REPORT.

ALLEGATIONS DISPROVED,

\ The report of the Supreme Court Judges on t!i« allegation made a» to an alleged improper payment to Captain Seddon was completed «n xoth November, and was forwarded to. the Governor at Auckland, a®d fa* turned in due course to WelUngtea, where it has now been handed w t®® press for publication.

TUB FINDING. “ Whatever may b® the most reason* able explanation of the evidence of these witnesses, we find specifically that there never was any genera® voucher or document in the Chnstchurch Post Office which could hav® afforded any reasonable ground for the statements made by these witnesses. “We formally report, in answer to the questions referred to us by the Commission:— 1 “ x. That a voucher for payment of an amount by cheque on the Public Account signed by the payee could not disappear without a record of its existence or payment being left in the departmental boots or records. “3. That in years 1905-4 M voucher was issued in favour of Capf* Seddon for payments to him at Christchurch out of the Public Account of a sum df between £79 and £7O (61 any other sum), for the reorganisatien > of Defence Stores, or any other service.

“3. That Captain Seddon ha* . never claimed or received any such voucher. “ The Commission authorises ua t* make such recommendations ai wi think fit respecting the costs of the parties and witnesses in the enquiry We recommend that the costs 01 the Departments represented at the enquiry and of Captain Seddon be paul ( out of the Consolidated Fund. W® recommend that the witnesses, Messrs Larcombc West, and Lundon, be paid their expenses of attendance, including their steamer fare, such expenses to to allowed at the rate of las a day,' liffn . |i an extra allowance of 33 per night for. - * each night they were necessarily; absent from their respective homes. Mr Willis was in a peculiar position. ' He was made a party to ths enquiry, and he has failed to establisb ( orin any J way justify the allegations made by him. Considering, however, the tact 1; that the enquiry was of a public nature, and that he was a necessary. > ; witness, whose, attendance and presence was featured by the Court, ' ‘ and that his salary bad ceased, be' having been suspended from his office* we recommend that he be paid at the rateofiasa lay from and including i. f the 21st October, 2905, with an extra allowance et 3$ for each sight during that peried that fee w*» absent from Christchurch, together with his railway and steamer fares from Christchurch to Wellington and Wellington to Christchurch. ""'' r ' e l