§ MR. NICOLLsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary for War if his attention has been called to a report that an officer high in the public service has recently absconded; and if it be true that the principal books and accounts at the Government Establishment at Weedon have for nearly three years been kept on the principle of single entry, during which period a complete stock-taking of stores has not been effected? And in the event of there being some foundation for these statements, if it is the intention of Government to cause an immediate investigation into the whole of the facts of the case?
GENERAL PEELsaid, in reply to the question of the hon. Member, it was perfectly true that the principal storekeeper at Weedon (Mr. Elliot) had absconded. He absented himself on Thursday, the 20th May, promising to return on Saturday to pay the workmen their wages. As he did not do so information was telegraphed to the War Department on the following day (Sunday), and Sir Benjamin Hawes immediately gave directions that a detective officer should be employed to apprehend him. It was found that he had travelled to Liverpool, and bad sailed on Saturday in the American steamer for Boston. Two gentlemen had been sent down from the Storekeeper's Department to examine the state of Mr. Elliot's accounts. It was found that they were kept in a correct manner by double entry up to the 31st of December, but he had failed to make up his account at the end of the following quarter, and the impress he had demanded for May had not been given to him. It 1450 was not correct that no stock had been taken, for, in consequence of a change between the officers at Weedon and Dublin, stock had been taken which had only been finished on the 14th of May. The account so ascertained had not been examined with the ledger, but steps were now taken to do so, and the amount of the deficiency would then be known.