I.—lc.

14

[general babington.

144. Who certifies to those now ?—I think that Colonel Chaytor does. 145. The officer who certifies is Colonel Chayter?—Yes. 146. Could not a non-commissioned officer who had been on service, if he were in your office— a sergeant-major or a lieutenant—have done that work just the same, supposing he had a knowledge of the contingents just the same as Captain Clark had ?—No; the officer must have knowledge of the men. 147. But these were contingents in which Captain Clark never served at all ? —He served in the Second, Seventh, and Ninth, and was attached to the Sixth for some time. 148. There was an advantage in his knowing more men because he was with the four contingents ? —Very much so. I do not suppose that we could have got anybody who knew more about the details. 149. Supposing that he had been non-existent, or would not do the work, you could have got somebody else?—We should have got the next best man. 150. And you would have reckoned £4 a week fitting remuneration ? —That is what we recommended. 151. Were you aware that £1 12s. 6d. a day was claimed?—No; we recommended £4 a week. 152. For that class of work would you think the claim of £1 12s. 6d. a day exorbitant ?— Based on what custom ? 153. Simply paying according to the class of work, which you stated was worth £4 a week. Do you think the claim exorbitant based upon the class of work ?—lf you put it as a marketable value I should say that the claim is exorbitant ; but I only say that the custom for an officer 154. Mr. Taylor.] Surely it is not the custom for a man to claim detention at 12s. 6d. a day when the city in which he was working was really his ordinary place of abode ?—No, I should not think it was. 155. Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon.] Do you think that if it was proved from the roll that the domicile of Captain Clark was Wellington, and we paid 12s. 6d. a day detention, that the Imperial authorities would recognise it ? —No ; under the Imperial regulations you are not allowed to claim detention when you are working in the same place as you live in. 156. Mr. Hardy.] Does Captain Clark take any responsibility for the preparation of this roll which I have here ? Is it the captain who prepared the roll or the colonel who signed it that takes the responsibility ?—The man who signs, of course, takes the responsibility; but Captain Clark was practically in the position that the adjutant of a regiment would be in when preparing the medal rolls of a regiment, we will say. The colonel would sign, but the adjutant would bring them to him. 157. Mr. B. McKenzie.] Captain Clark would have to satisfy Colonel Chaytor that the information on the roll was correct before Colonel Chaytor would sign ?—Yes. The authorities deal only with the man who signs, 158. Mr. Hardy.] Who would be responsible for returning a man as being dead when it could be proved that he was still alive ?—You mean on the roll ? 159. Yes?— The man who signed it. But in this case Colonel Chaytor would come down upon the man who was helping him to make it vp —Captain Clark. Captain J. J. Clark examined. (No. 3.) 160. Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon.] What was the last contingent you were in in South Africa?— The Ninth. 161. When did you join the Ninth ? —I actually joined it on the 23rd May, 1902, to the best of my knowledge; that was when I officially joined it. 162. What contingent were you in before that?— The Seventh. 163. When did you join the Seventh ?—On the 18th May, 1901. 164. What contingent were you in before that ?—The Second. 165. Will you tell me on what date you joined the Second ?—2oth December, 1899. 166. Mr. B. McKenzie.] In New Zealand?—ln Wellington, New Zealand. 167. Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon.] What rank did you hold in the Second?— Regimental Quarter-master-sergeant . 168. Did you join as that ?—We all joined as troopers. 169. Were you with Major Pilcher in Cape Town for some time? —Yes. 170. What rank did you hold with him ?—Do you mean was I employed officially by Major Pilcher, or in any way connected with the office ? 171. What was your position with Major Pilcher?—Nothing; I was only a friend. 172. How long were you there ? —Eleven days. 173. Did you receive notice of promotion ?—No, not at that time. 174. When were you promoted to be lieutenant?—On the 31st March, 1901; that was the date of my commission. It went through the Army Orders on the 15th June, 1901, I think. 175. Have you any commission as captain in Army Orders ?—ln the New Zealand Militia. 176. I mean in South Africa ?—No. 177. When did you leave South Africa?—l left Durban on the 10th July, 1902. 178. When did you arrive in Wellington ?—On the 14th August, 1902. 179. You were instructed to go on and finish the pay-sheet and details affecting the Ninth Contingent ?—No. 180. How did you come to do the work ?—I had nothing to do with the pay-sheets ; that is not in my department. 181. What were you doing with Colonel Abbott?—Making out discharges. 182. Who told you to do that ?—Colonel Abbott.