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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 16 August 1880, Page 2

A most flagrant case of intended misappropriation of public money by the present .Ministry has just been brought to light in Wellington. The other 'lay, Mr. Speight asked the Government for information regarding an amount of LJ7OO appearing on the Estimates as arrears of pensions, and voted by the House. It straw ruled that the information could only Ixi given in th« shape of a return, and the matter was allowed to drop, Shortly

afterwards, Mr. Speight spoke to Major Atkinson about the matter 3 and told him that he had suspicions that it was intended to pay arrears of Dr. Pollen's pension, to which the Attorney-General, Mr. Stoutj and the, Crown Law Officers had decided he was not entitled. Major Atkinson coolly repudiated this. Mr. however, said that the Treasurer had better tell the truth, or he would take such action as would compel him to do so. Major Atkinson afterwards confessed that the matter was as Mr. Speight suspected. _ Mr. Speight intends to create a discussion in the House on the matter, which will doubtless be characterised by considerable warmth. This is another instance of the sacrifice of public money to political friends at a time when the pauperised condition of the Colony has given rise to the mention of the necessity for repudiation. What are the peccadilloes of the late Government compared to such flagrant outrages as these? Comment upon this most dishonest transaction is unnecessary, and we therefore content ourselves with the plain statement of the facts.