I.—lc.

MAJOK CHAYTOR.I

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394. Who told you he was to go into your office to assist you ?—Major Smith, sir. 395. Are you positive ? —He issues instructions in the office as Chief Staff Officer. All instructions are given by him. 396. Did he say anything about payment of salary ? —No. 397. All the time Captain Clark was with you were you aware he was sending in vouchers for his salary ?—I did not speak to him on the subject. I took it he was, and was drawing his money. 398. He never told you he was not drawing it ?—No. 399. Have you met any other case of a man working for five months and not drawing pay?— No. In the conditions which prevailed with the early contingents there was no settling up from month to month. 400. Is it contrary to the Imperial practice to sit in office for five months without pay ?—The rule is that the men should be paid monthly. 401. Then you think an officer like Captain Clark would be aware of such a regulation?— Well, it was a regulation that was not enforced when on service in South Africa. The regular forces did do it, but in the field it was found impossible, and advances only were made. 402. In the field it is different to sitting in the office ? —There is nothing to prevent a man in the office being paid. 403. Mr. B. McKenzie.] A circular was issued lately to the effect that the accounts are to be sent in monthly. It is a reminder of an old regulation ?—I was not aware it was a regulation until I saw this. 404. Do you know any other case of this kind ?—No. This is the only case that has come under my notice. 405. Mr. E. G. Allen.] Is it not the custom to receive payment monthly ?—Yes ; the vouchers are sent in in the beginning of the month. 406. Who sends them in ? —ln our office each officer sends in his own voucher, and provisionally certifies to it. 407. Is it not a fact that you have Ministerial authority for the first payment ? —Yes, sir. 408. Are you aware there was any difficulty in the case of Captain Clark? —There was a Ministerial authority for some work in the office, sir. 409. Is that what you allude to [referring to document] ?—Yes, sir. 410. Do you know Captain McGee ?—I never saw him. 411. Did you know he was likely to do this medal work?—l was told there was authority, but it could not be found at the time. 412. Mr. B. McKenzie.] Every officer signs his own voucher. Is it not certified to by a superior officer ?—An officer provisionally certifies his claim; the Ministerial authority is held by the Under-Secretary. 413. Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon.] Before a first payment is made you must have the Ministerial authority ? —Provided the Under-Secretary held the Minister's authority, he would pay on the officer certifying that the person had done the work. An ordinary claim is certified by a superior officer. 414. You must be aware there is the specific authority of the Minister for certain expenditure ? —Yes. 415. The Chairman.] Is it the usual practice to allow detention pay where a man is resident? —Not at his own home. The regulations provide for travelling-allowance for seven days, and after that a reduced allowance is given. 416. Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon.] Is this detention money looked upon as travelling-expenses?— Travelling, if travelling. The service detention allowance is less than travelling-allowance. It provides hotel expenses where they are necessary. 417. What would a lieutenant get ? —I could not say ; I think about 9s. 418. And a captain ?—About 12s. 6d. 419. Mr. E. G. Allen.] What order does that refer to [presenting a document] ?—lt was an instruction from the Treasury Department that claims against the Government were to be sent in monthly, at the Ist of the month. 420. Mr. Barber.] Do you know that there must be a number of people who fail to send in monthly claims ? —There are many claims come in practically a year old and more than that, and it makes the work difficult. They are not for salaries. But this is a general instruction. 421. The Chairman.] Are salaries six months unpaid ? —No. 422. Three months?—No ; not unless there is a dispute. 423. Mr. Barber.] Supposing you employed a man to do a particular work, such as preparing the King's Medal roll, and you thought you could do it perhaps in five weeks, would you think it strange to have left the claim over for five weeks ? —I should not have thought it strange. 424. If you thought it would take only a few more days you would naturally keep your voucher back. Captain Clark was given the whole of the work?—l did part, but only a little, as my time was occupied. 425. Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon.] Were you responsible?— Yes. 426. Do you not think it an extraordinary thing for a man to sit in an office five months without salary ? —Yes. 427. Mr. Barber.] If you knew the work was going to take five months. You said this authority for Captain Clark's employment was found some time after ? —Yes. 428. Have you authority for your employment? —The Under-Secretary holds it. 429. Has any one been employed in the Defence Department where the authority has been obtained after the work has been done ? —No. 430. Why was Captain Clark allowed to go on all these months without authority ?—I did not know there was no authority. I was instructed he was to get certain work, and when it was done he left. I did not know there was no authority.