I.—6b

34

721. Is it customary for an Under-Secretary to furnish information in the manner indicated by this exhibit, with neither name nor date ? —I would not inquire how he would got the information. I took it he would be satisfied with them before he gave them to me. 722. That is not my question. I ask you whether it is customary for your Under-Secretary to furnish you with information of importance in such a fashion. That piece of paper contains neither heading, signature, nor date. Is that customary? —A particular set of figures are asked for ; they are put on a slip of paper. You know what they are, and what they are for. I have no doubt, some day or other, you will find that is the custom if you get in the position lam in. You, J clare say, will find it convenient to get the same information in the same way, I think I would require somebody to put his name there. 723. Mr. G. Hutchison.] Are you aware how the figures appeared in the newspapers on the day after the paper was laid on the table ? —I could not say. I did not look. 724. Did Mr. Blow, when he admitted having corrected the figures, say anything about the tables having also been altered?—No ; I may say I was not aware of that credit of £111 until that came out in the Committee. 725. You were left, then, to find it here ?—lt was the first I heard of it. 726. Have you censured Mr. Blow for his conduct? —I made inquiries, and found the usual custom had been followed. As he had followed what had been obtaining for years I could not censure him, but I came to the conclusion that it would have been better if he had told me the next day. 727. It would have been better if he had told you before he had altered it at all ?—At all events, I found that he had treated the Statement laid upon the table as a Statement delivered orally and previously. In all these alterations had been made. 728. Has Mr. Blow or any body else been able to point out a similar course followed, or alteration made, in any document laid on the table ? —Well, it is impossible to find a particular one. I should say Yes, alterations have been made. 729. Has he been able to point out any similar alteration made in a public document ?—Well, I did not require him to do it, because I know of my own knowledge. '730. What one do you know to have been altered in this'way? —I think I told you that within my own knowledge alterations have been made. 731. We want an instance or two ? —Probably if you go through the Appendices and Statements you will find out for yourself. 732. I ask for an instance ?—There is the one Mr. Costall gave in his evidence. 733. I think the House would like to know. We are only ascertaining this for the purpose of reporting, you know, and I ask for an instance ?—I have myself seen a Statement —a Financial Statement —and not since we have been in office—which it was impossible could go through as it was read and delivered. It was a mass of interlineations and marks, and it was impossible there could have been no alteration. 734. That is an inference of your own?—l do not know that it is. It certainly fortifies myself. 735. I think it is one of those points upon which the House will ask for information. I think on resuming you might give one or two instances ?—I have given you all the information upon this head I think I should. You ask me if I have satisfied myself, and I say I have. 736. And I ask you for an instance ?—And I decline to give it. The Committee then adjourned.

Wednesday, 23rd August, 1893. Hon. B. J. Seddon further examined. 737. Hon. Mr. Seddon: The last question yesterday, I think, was asked by Mr. Hutchison, who desired me to give a particular case or cases, within my own knowledge, of the alteration of a Statement. I said "I declined." I wish to explain: I said that as this is not a question of the alteration of any other document. The information being given to me confidentially, Ido not think I would be justified in giving the details. It is a long time ago, and it does not affect this case at all. It was not that I wished to say I would not answer any question put to me, but I said " I decline," that being a short way to answer. 738. Was that instance in the Public Works or the Financial Statement ? —Both, I should say. 739. Mr. G. Hutchison.] Can you say how long ago it was? Are you at liberty to say that? —Oh yes, I have previously said it was some time ago. 740. Was it a Public Works Statement or a Financial Statement ?—I think I may say both. 741. Alterations in both?—ln both. I mean to say it has been a general practice. That is the English of it. 742. Was the alteration similar to this —not what we may call an ordinary alteration, but one affecting the gist of the passage ?—There have been contradictions in different parts ; the figures have not agreed ; there has been inconsistency, errors, which of course have been corrected. That is what I mean. 743. In regard to this instance in your mind, no opportunity was taken to point out any corrections made ?—No. 744. Then to this day, 'the public are probably under a misapprehension?—l would say this : Suppose you are in the House taking down what was being delivered, you would probably find subsequently some figures would not agree with those in the Appendix. That is, the complete Statement would not agree. 745. That is hardly the present case ?—The present case is in regard to a document laid on the table.