MAJOR SMITH.I

19

I.—lC.

329. Did you not know when he completed his engagement and made out the voucher that he sent in his claim for that ? —Yes. 330. Then, after he had completed his month's work in connection with his own contingent, he must be given authority before he could undertake any other duty ?—Yes. 331. You have no documents showing his employment ?—I do not think so. 332. Is your memory good enough to assure the Committee that you gave a statement of his work ?—No. 333. Do you not think important engagements should be in writing ?—Captain Joyce would give the order. 334. But you would instruct him ?—Yes. 335. You told him what work you wanted Captain Clark to perform ?—No, I did not say that, sir. Captain Joyce would attend to detail. 336. Then you would be the officer to tell him the rate of pay ? —lf the question came up. 337. Surely there would be some question of pay ?- -I do not know that it did come up. 338. You must have known last week when before this Committee that Captain Clark sent in more than one voucher ?—Yes. 339. Well, so far as this is concerned, neither the Acting Under-Secretary nor yourself knew anything about these vouchers except the £277. That is all the Committee had before them ? —lt was impossible for me to remember all the vouchers. 340. Did it not occur to you to refer to the files ?—I had the files. 341. Had you those vouchers on the file ?—I could not say. 342. We asked you to help the Committee in a matter that involves a great deal of money. If. Captain Clark's statement is borne out by the Commandant's report and contradicted by the Under-Secretary, having the files, do you not think the Chief Staff Officer should give the Committee all the information he can?—l think so; but I have not lately done much with contingent matters. 343. You are aware that the whole point turns upon the £4 a week ?—Yes, sir. 344. And you know that he was paid £4 per week ?—No ; the officers have to receipt their own vouchers. I take it that they are certified. 345. Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon.] Will you read that, Major Smith [handing witness a document]. —" Wellington, 9th July, 1902.—Memorandum for the Hon. the Acting Minister of Defence.—ln view of the amount of work connected with returning contingents, and the large number of men shortly returning to the colony, I would strongly recommend that an officer be temporarily employed to carry out the necessary work connected with the same. This work has up to the present been carried on by an officer of the headquarters staff, but to the detriment of other business, nor is contingent work up to date. It is most important that matters connected with the contingents should be adjusted without undue delay. The period for which the officer will be required will be three months, and I recommend pay at the rate of £4 per week.—J. M. Babington, Major-General, Commandant New Zealand Forces." Have you ever seen that before ?—Yes. 346. Who drafted it?—l did, sir. 347. What is this [handing a document to witness] ? —A letter from General Babington to the Under-Secretary for Defence about Captain Clark. 348. And you gave evidence in support of this the other day?— Yes, sir. 349. Will you read this paragraph: " Lieutenant Clark (as he then was) was engaged to complete the discharges of the Sixth Contingent at the rate of pay according to his rank in South Africa. This had in cases of other contingents always been done. When he was detailed for further work it was presumed it was at the same rate — i.e., according to his rank. Captain Clark did not tender any claim for his services during the continuation thereof, which he should have done monthly, as is the invariable rule. Had he done this—as the Chief Staff Officer naturally presumed he was doing—the question of the rate of his pay and the continuation of his services would then have been brought up and the matter settled." Now, having certified to that voucher two months before, were you not misleading the General ? —Well, I do not know, sir. 350. Is not that a direct statement that he is to receive £4 per week, and that he was detailed for further work? Is not that for the same work?— Yes. 351. The Chairman.] What is the date of the last voucher?—23rd June. Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon: On the 23rd June you certified to £82, and on the 10th September you drafted this communication to the General. 352. The Chairman.] Did you keep any record of the vouchers ?—No. Many vouchers Ido not sign as correct. 353. Do you not keep any record of any item, of anything connected with the employment ?— They are kept on a file. Salary abstracts are sent to the Under-Secretary during the month, and the receipts to be signed come to the office. 354. Then there would be a file in connection with Captain Clark ?—Yes. 355. Mr. Barber.] You say you assumed Captain Clark was kept on at the same pay ? —Yes. . 356. You are in charge of the Department ? —Yes. 357. And no one else can give Captain Clark his pay? —I am Chief Staff Officer, and no one can give instructions to pay except myself. 358. At that time the authority from the Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, about £4 per week, was not known ? —No. 359. And it was only some months afterwards—on the 23rd June—after this authority was turned up that you got Captain Clark to amend his claim. Did you get Captain Clark to put in his amended claim ?—I think Captain Clark brought it to me and asked me to certify to it. 360. Captain Clark.] There is authority from the Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones for the employment of some one at £4 per week? —Yes.