The Seddon Voucher Charges.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7901, 17 August 1905, Page 2

The Seddon Voucher Charges.

No Nearer Solution. Oieial Statement of Procedure. (Per P.ress Association.) WELLINGTON, Aug. JG. With reference to the Press Association message from Christchurch appearing in this morning's papers, relating to, the possibility of the ' Scddon vouchor having been made out in Christdhiurch and afterwards refused by the Audit Department, it is officially ix>intod out that "such a contention is absurd; and from the course followed in respect to vouchers is absolutely / impossible, and for the following reasons :—(1) The Un-der-Secretary for Defence would have to create the voucher and certify to the service having .been performed ; (2) Before the alleged voucher could ivach the Christchurch office at all it would first hnvo to go to the Chief Post Oflice, Wellington, and also to be certified to by the Defence Department in Wellington; («) It would Ihon have to pass audit—if refused it would not leave Wellington ; (4) H sent on to Christchurch that would prove it haid passed audit, and had gone on to tiho Trearury in Wellington before being sent to the Christchurch Post Office."

The official statement goes on to say : "Further, when Captain Scddon states - in his declaration that he never performed any such services, surely tj'ijit is sufficient to show that lie never in any way claimed on account of such services, seeing that it would be. a claim from him upon which the voucher would be formed. Anyone having avijy knowledge of the working of the Civil Service must know ttyit the only way a voucher could be sent to the Christchurch Post Office would be from a. particular Department, the caso in point being the Sneddon voucher from tfnp Railway Department. Technically, and .in Civil Service parlance, ji (document is not a voucher until it is Paid."