21

I.—6b

449. Will you inform the Committee what you know of that alteration ?—I have with me three sheets. The first is the sheet as finally passed for press by Mr. Blow. 450. Of the Public Works Statement ? —Yes, bearing his authority—his signature, and date. [Sheet 1, Exhibit No. 4, handed in.] 451. You use the word " finally "? —I do. 452. Mr. G. Hutchison.] What is the date ?—The 27th September, 1892. 453. The Chairman.] That is the corrected copy?— What I mean by the final copy is this: The Committee will understand all documents of this nature are for some considerable time previously in preparation, and there are numerous revises. When these are done with, and the whole is ready for press, there is a final passing, with authority to print. That sheet bears the authority from Mr. Blow for going to press, and contains, as you will see, the figures as originally printed. 454. Do you know by whose instructions the figures were altered ? —I produce the duplicate of the same sheet, containing the same pages on which the alteration is made, said to be by Mr. Blow. The alteration is neither signed, initialled, nor dated. I recognise it by the figures, which I know to be those of Mr. Blow. The figures are in his handwriting. They are pages 9to 16, and the alteration is on page 14. This sheet bears the signature of the chief machinist, and is dated the following day, 28th September, 1892. [Exhibit No. 5 produced.] 455. Hon. Mr. Seddon.] What is the figure, Mr. Costall, in the one that was first passed, in page 14, as the expenditure for 1891-92?—£295,978. 456. And that is altered to what ?—To £391,501 on the second document. 457. And these figures are in Mr. Blow's handwriting?— They are. The third, sheet is the copy filed by the chief machinist of the same pages. It bears on it the full number printed, " 1850." [Exhibit No. 6 produced.] 458. Mr. Guinness.] With the corrected figures? —No. I may tell the Committee there is nothing to show how many copies were printed with the original figures and how many were printed with the altered figures. 459. Mr. Wright.] It is the .total number ?—The total number was 1,850. I may add this is an irregularity; unfortunately, the practice of noting things without either signature or dates has been a very prevalent one in the printing-office, and one I have had, in my former capacity, to constantly fight about. It is one I am now insisting upon shall be done uniformly throughout the whole establishment. But I can tell the Committee that I think certainly that 300 copies, what is technically called the " short number," was done. Every document which comprises many pages, like the Financial Statement, the estimates, or the Public Works Statement, where there are many forms to be sent to the machines, have the short number for both Houses done first. The remaining copies—what is called the longer number—are done immediately after, at convenience. The short number is invaribly 300. So 300 copies were struck off first, and the remaining 1,550 containing the altered figures afterwards. 460. Dr. Newman.] There were some other alterations made in the later tables, Mr. Costall: Can you tell us who first told you to make those alterations ?—No, I cannot inform the Committee. 461. You know how these you have told us about were altered? Hon. Mr. Seddon: He only knows by the documents. 462. Dr. Newman!] You do not know who made the alterations in the tables later on?—No, I do not. 463. You say the alteration was made the day after the Statement was printed?— The first sheet printed bears date 27th September, 1892; the sheet with the altered figures upon it, by Mr. Blow, 28th September, 1892; the full number filed bears the date, 29th September, 1892. 464. Could anybody in the office tell us who made the alteration in the table later on—Table C and D ?—I think it quite possible that the Superintending Overseer may have some recollection 0 the matter. 465. Hon. Sir J. Hall.] That is Mr. Burns? —Yes. Had I known of any alterations in the tables 1 could have brought up the sheets and the Committee could have seen them. I can get them. 466. Mr. Wright.] The date, 29th September, marked on the third of these sheets does not indicate at what time the larger number, or 1,550, with the corrections, were printed ?—lt simply indicates that 1,850 copies have been printed. 476. That 1,850 had been printed? —Yes, that is all it indicates. 477. Can you say why the corrected copies were not distributed to members of the House as soon as printed ? —Because no orders were given for such distribution ; that is the simple explanation. 479. They are retained at the' printing-office until the orders are given?— Yes; there is a certain fixed distribution; all beyond that would be retained for any further orders. 480. And no such orders were given ?—No such orders were given. 481. Hon. Mr. Seddon.] Are you sure of that?— Yes; I am quite sure that no order was given for the distribution to members of the corrected figures. lam quite clear about that, because it is a matter that would come under my own notice in respect to the publishing-room. 482. Will you be able to explain how it was members got the corrected ones? —No, I cannot, Mr. Seddon. 483. Hon. Sir J. Hall.] Did they get them? Hon. Mr. Seddon : Yes. Hon. Sir J. Hall: That is not in evidence. 484. Mr. Guinness.] Did you have anything to do with the distribution of these copies to the members, or did you not simply print a number and send them up to the Parliamentary Buildings ? —There are standing orders with regard to the distribution to members of all parliamentary papers. In the ordinary course of business, these standing orders would be applied. Anything outside or beyond them would be a matter of special instruction.