. HON. R. J. SEDDON.I

9

I.—lc.

status is fixed by the documents and to your own knowledge, because when you were acting as an officer of a contingent you went to Colonel Abbott and got him to certify to your voucher. Colonel Abbott had left; you were no longer under him ; you admit that otherwise your next voucher would have been sent to him for his certificate. 18. Mr. Wood.] Could a clerk have done this work ?—A clerk could have done the work, but there was an advantage, of course, in the person doing it having a personal knowledge of the work ; but an ordinary clerk could have done it. There were some sergeant-majors who did the other work, and if it had not been that Lieutenant Clark was there I suppose one of these men would have been given the work. 19. Captain Clark.] —You mentioned that I had received £379 10s.; might I ask how you make up that sum ?—You received New Zealand furlough for rank of captain, 31 days at 15s. — £23 55.; S.W. gratuity for rank of lieutenant, £37 10s.; received for making out discharge certificates and handing over books of Ninth Contingent, 25 days' pay at £1, and 25 days' detention allowance at 12s. 6d.—£4o 12s. 6d. ; a gratuity under pay-warrant B. 601, £191 15s. Bd. It is calculated that you got 15s. a day during the time as lieutenant. The document that I handed in shows how much you received. Here it is. [Document shown.] 20. What is the rate for a captain in New Zealand ?—I think it is a guinea a day, or £1. 21. Are you aware that this account says, " Received New Zealand furlough for rank of captain 31 days at 15s. " ? —Yes ; I see it marked, and I see by the next item that you received something as lieutenant. 22. Are you aware of the rate of pay as lieutenant in New Zealand ?—From memory, I think it is about right—l think it is 15s. a day. 23. Would it be possible that this amount mentioned here would be at the rate for lieutenant instead of captain ?—I could not tell you from memory ; I have nothing to do with that. I simply handed in the written document and it must speak for itself. 24. You mentioned that I received the sum of £379 10s. since I returned to New Zealand?— That is so according to that paper. 25. Are you aware that the amount stated on the paper is £297 10s. ? —You must add to that the money that you received for the period outside ; it is not on this paper at all. You will see a sidenote on this paper. I asked the secretary to add to this 15s. a day during the time that you were in South Africa ; that is added to it and makes the difference. 26. But you are aware that I have not been paid for that period ? —-I am not personally aware of it. 27. Well, I am petitioning the House now to be paid for it, and yet you have stated that I received £379 10s. ?—I have said that that is according to the document submitted by the UnderSecretary. I suppose he presumed that you received the pay for the time being whilst in South Africa, which would make up the £379 10s. 28. But I did not. lam now petitioning Parliament for it ?—The only thing I can say is that it would be very strange if you were paid for one duty here and then claimed pay for the same period as an Imperial officer ; it would be an overlapping. 29. Have you any recollection of Colonel Porter while in South Africa mentioning to you that he wished to promote some officers from the Seventh Contingent into the Ninth?—l would not like to tax my memory to that extent. If there were any promotions I would not do it verbally, it would be done by a written application. I did not promote officers by any officer asking me to do so, more particularly when, as in this case, it had to go before the general commanding ; it would require my signature. I know that Colonel Porter always spoke very highly of the officers and of you, I think; amongst them. Colonel Porter recommended a number, but the general commanding said they were fully staffed —even in excess of the required number—and he would not promote, and he did not, although I, myself, had recommended them. 30. Are you aware of the conditions under which the army orders—under which I drew £191 15s. Bd.—are granted ?—No. 31. You are not aware of the conditions of service? —I am not. 32. Are you aware of the difference between the rank of captain and adjutant and lieutenant and adjutant so far as pay is concerned ?—No ; Ido not know anything about it. 33. Would it surprise you to learn that there is no difference in pay? —No, I should not be surprised ; if it is a fact the army order to which you refer will speak for itself. 34. Can you say from memory whether I have been made a captain in New Zealand?—l should say from memory, yes, but not a captain retrospectively. I have given most of the officers promotions on their coming back here. 35. Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones.] In the New Zealand Militia?— Yes. 36. Apart from the contingents altogether? —Yes. Major-General Babington, Commandant New Zealand Forces, examined. (No. 2.) 37. Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon.] You have submitted a written statement —this is your signature, General? [Document produced and shown to witness.] —Yes, sir. 38. According to the statement the rule prevailing in your Department is that vouchers must be sent in monthly ?—Yes ; I understand it is a Treasury regulation. I have been told—l will not state it as an absolute fact —that you are liable to a fine of £1 if you do not do it. It is a custom, at all events, to send the vouchers in monthly. 39. Were you aware of the fact that you had an officer working in your Department—Captain Clark—for months without sending in his accounts?— That does not come under my supervision. Each officer sends in his vouchers direct to the Under-Secretary for Defence. We have no check. The Under-Secretary for Defence is entirely separate from us. He is not under my control, nor am I under his control. If an officer did not send his voucher in the Under-Secretary would, I presume, bring it to our notice if the thing was carried out on regulation lines. 2—l. lc.