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325. So then there are two different departments, the "inside" and the "outside," which are managed by two different heads, namely, Mr. Bayly and Mr. Maunsell ? —Tes. 326. How is Mr. Maunsell paid? —He receives £250 a year from the Sheep Department. 327. Does he get any other salary ? —Tes, he receives £200 a year for his services as Private Secretary to the Minister in charge of the Upper House. 328. During the recess he is at the head of the Sheep Department so far as you are concerned ?— Tes. 329. Have you made any recommendations to the Minister with regard to the necessity of defining properly the functions of Mr. Bayly and Mr. Maunsell ?—No. Mr. Maunsell was appointed by the Minister without my being consulted, and I did not interfere. I was not asked to give any expression, of opinion with regard to the appointment of either. 380. Tou are of opinion that some reform is necessary in the department, and that the duties of these two officers should be defined properly ?—Tes, I think that is necessary. 33L. When correspondence is addressed to the Stock Branch, who receives it?—lt is received, opened, and recorded by my record clerk, who then sends it on to Mr. Maunsell. 332. Are the letters sent to you ? —No, as a rule they go direct from Mr. Maunsell to the Minister. The Minister gives his instructions regarding it, and then it is referred to me if necessary. Ido not generally see the correspondence until the Minister has done with it. I merely carry out the instructions of the Minister. 333. Mr. J. McKenzie~\ Do you know anything of this case of Telf ord's ? —Nothing at all. 334. Mr. Swanson.] Who looks after the work of the Sheep Department when Mr. Maunsell is earning his bonus of £200 a year for acting as Private Secretary to the Premier? —Mr. Maunsell himself does the greater part of it. In the middle of winter, while Parliament is sitting, there is not a great deal of work to do in the Sheep Department. 335. Mr. W. White'] When did Mr. Maunsell get this appointment as Private Secretary ? —I think he joined in the session of 1878. It was the first session in which Sir George Whitmore was leader of the Upper House. 336. Previously to that he gave the whole of his time for £200 a year ?—No, he was not then in the Service. 337. Seeing that Mr. Mannsell can be spared to do the work of Private Secretary during the session and to be absent from his duties in the Sheep Department, do you not think you could do the work in your own office if you had some little additional assistance? —Tes, I am sure I could. 338. VV Tould you require any assistance at all?—I should require another clerk to replace Mr. Maunsell. 339. Mr. Turnhull.~\ Do I understand you to say that Mr. Maunsell is simply a clerk ? —Tes, he is a clerk in charge of the Sheep Department. 340. Mr. W. O. Buchanan.] How does Mr. Bayly get his clerical work done ? —There is a clerk in the office who is at the disposal of Mr. Bayly for his work. 341. If instructions had to be given to the clerk, and Mr. Maunsell and Mr. Bayly gave different orders, what would be the position ? —I do not know. The thing has not yet occurred, nor is it at all likely. In such a case as that I should have to settle the matter. 342. So far, has there been any clash in consequence of the anomalous positions of these twoofficers ? —Not to my knowledge. 343. Then, no practical necessity has arisen to call for a definition of the duties of the two men ? —No. 344. What are considered to be the office hours of Mr. Maunsell during the session ? —The regular office hours are from h ilf-past nine o'clock a.m. to four p.m., but heads of departments have no office hours. I am frequently at work till midnight, and I know that Mr. Maunsell constantly works till a late hour in the Sheep Office. 345. In the event of both classes of Mr. MaunselFs work clashing, which would have to give way, the Private Secretary or the Sheep Office clerk ? —I should think his sheep duties would suffer, but the clash is not likely to occur. 346. In the ordinary business of the Stock Department would you act without consulting the Minister ? —Tes ; but not in cases in which a question of policy or of appointing an officer was involved. 347. The Chairman.] How are the officers appointed ?—Up to to the time of Mr. Bayly's appointment they were made by the Minister, usually on Mr. Maunsell's recommendation; but now Mr. Bayly recommends. <* 348. But officers have been appointed since Mr. Bayly took office without his being consulted ? —I was not aware of that. I do not think that ought to have happened if Mr. Bayly was within reach. 349. Did you recommend the two officers who were so appointed ?—No. Mr. Maunsell may have recommended them, but it is not usual for him to do so now. At the same time the Minister may have made the appointments himself without any recommendation. 350. How many clerks are there in the Stock Branch ? —Only one permanent clerk. 351. From whom does he receive instructions? —Sometimes from me, but generally from Mr. Bayly and Mr. Maunsell. 352. Then, with the assistance of the permanent clerk and another, you could do all the work of the department without the aid of Mr. Maunsell ? —Tes. If Mr. Maunsell were to leave I should require some one to replace him. 353. Mr. W. O. Buchanan.] Has Mr. Bayly been to Auckland or Napier at all in his official capacity ?—No. I do not think he has yet visited Auckland, Napier, or Now Plymouth, the reason being that his time has been so much taken up in the Middle Island in the work of exterminating the r*abbits.

By Authority: Geobge Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB2.