The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1905. THE TRIUMPH OF FACTS OVER FICTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7923, 12 September 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1905. THE TRIUMPH OF FACTS OVER FICTION.

"I thiuk both House and country aro thoroughly tired of the voucher business. It has blocked legitimate business for some time, and I hope we shall hear very little more cf it." These words which fell from Mr Massey in the House on Thursday evoked loud cries of approval from all .parts of the House, ami aptjy expressed the sentiments of the colcny at largfc. The only grain of satisfaction that can be gleaned from the I"remier's motion, apart from that which attaches to the overwhelming majority by which the House affirmed its accord with the Auditor-General's report, is that the discussion was commenced and finished at one sitting, which lasted from 2.30 p.m. till 2 a.m.. excepting for the usual two hours adjournment. The upshot of the debate was thai the Premier's motion as amended, or rather as enlarged In Mr McXab's amendment, was curried by 1.1 to .V-the latter consisting of Messrs Fisher. Taylor, 1-auivns. n, Moss ami Bedford. Mr Taylor had given notice of an amendment if favour of a public inquiry and according to the Speaker's ruling this could have Invn moved after Mr McNab's amendment, had Invn dispos.il of.but in the light of the ligures ofthediM'sion on that amendment it wculd have been sheer folk- for Mr Taylor to have proceeded further. It is with a feeling of relief that the public can now regard this unpleasant and very wearisome business as effectually disposed of. Xo right n ,j m |ed person ever for a moment had any doubt on the subject, and though objection was taken by Mr Massey to Mr McXab's addenda, to the Premier's motion, on tin- ground that it was not necessary to congratulate the Premier on his honesty, , r the officers of the Department upon their truthfulness, any more than it would tw necessary to congratulate the Speaker on Ins impartial ruling, there can be no question that the amendment was amply justified and it is to the credit of the members that it should have been carried by such a large majority. Mr It. McKenzie aptly expressed the' 'prevailing sentiment when he said that the Auditor Uen-

oral had satisfied every Inmost man and woman in the colony that the charge was groundless, but he went to extremes by adding that_." the whole thing was manufactured and well designed to announce the birth 01 a new political party.'' With regard to Mr Fisher's pet in the debate, the least sard about it the better. Jlis letter to the IVemiej s!ti(wvd how incitptth.le: he was of graciously accepting the (hidings of the Auditor General instead of fully accepting them in accordance with his promise. Mr Taylor took up an even more unfortunate position, for he not only intimated his want of confidence in the Audit Department, but deliberately insisted thai a record of such a voucher was in the office a few weeks ago and must have been destroyed. It would lie mere waste of words to comment on such despicable tactics, especially as .Sir Joseph Word demonstrated most conclusively the impossibility and, a||>tiurdity of Mr Taylor's contention. There yet remains to be dealt with the officials on whose testimony thl indictment was framed. The outcome of their petition lor a publit inquiry requires little if any prophetic visioii'to forecast the result. That there will be an official inquiry into their conduct is absolutely certain. The regulations of the service cannot lie broken with impunity, for if the (Jovernnient ami the public cannot implicity rely on the strict, observance of secrecy all coniideiice in the public service is forfeitef. As Sir Joseph Ward pointed out," If the officials, thonghtin criminal act was I icing commit t.il they should have imported it to their surperiors. by whom it would have been reported to the Minister. Their duty was clear, and j they betrayed tlieir trust, and vet

it was on the evidence of such men | Mr Fisher wanted the House to believe that Messrs Collins and Grej had perjured themselves."- No one desires chat harsh treatment should lie meted out to.these officials if on inqiiirv they are found to have betrayed their trust, but for the credit of the service they must take the consequences of tlieir action. Jf exculpated, well ami good, but if not then their punis-hmeni will be iusl. The first step has already been taken, the officials having been suspended lor breaking tl(e regulations. The whole incident is greatly lo be regretted, the more so as !( emanated from a young politician whose deplorable indiscretions on first entering public life will probably mar i\hat might otherwise have been a promising career,