20

[¥. B. MABIN.

L—lb.

there are now 1 A. 1 could not tell you exactly the name of each book, but 1 could get the books. Q. (Jan you state if the casualty-book is there?—A. lam not prepared to state that. Q. Would you be surprised to learn that in the Headquarters Office there are no records belonging to the Fourth and Fifth Contingents? —A. 1 say that is incorrect. 209. Mr. U. McKenzie (to Mr. Butler).] Supposing there are no records of any kind, would your Department accept a statutory declaration? Say that a man went into a hospital in consequence of being wounded?—We would find out the officer who knew most about the particular incident and approach him in reference to it. 210. Supposing there was no evidence available, would your Department, accept a statutory declaration in the absence of such evidence?- If there was no other evidence available they would have to. 211. The Chairman (to Mr. Butler).] Have you ever seen that memorandum before? [Document with pencil memorandum, "Clark was told by the Accountant to send in claim monthly," handed to witness.]-T do not remember seeing it before. 212. Have you any knowledge of the writing?—l do not know whose writing it is. 213. (To Mr. Mabin.) Have you seen that before?—l have never seen it. 214. (To Mr. Butler.) Would you take any notice of a memorandum of that kind?- I would first ascertain from the Accountant if that were so, if it came before me. 215. Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones (to Mr. Butler).] W T ould you attach any significance or value whatever to an unsigned memorandum like that?--I would attach value to it, and would act upon it if I found it to be true. 216. But you would not attach any value to it until it was verified?-No, not until it was verified. 217. The Chairman (to the Right Hon. the Minister of Defence).] Would you attach any importance, as Minister of Defence, to a memorandum attached to a document without any signature? --I would not stop a voucher on anything like that, but I should probably hold it over until I had made inquiry.

Tuesday, Ist November, 1904. Robert Henry Williams examined. (No. 6.) 1. Eight Hon. the Minister of Defence.] What are you, Mr. Williams?— Assistant Accountant in the Defence Department. 2. You are aware that Lieutenant Clark has made a claim upon the Government for certain sums of money? —Yes. 3. You are aware, also, that he was engaged in compiling rolls, Arc, in the Defence Office?— I understand he was. 4. Can you carry your mind back to the time when he was engaged by the Defence Department? Yes. 5. There was a long time—in fact, he did not send in any vouchers for payment of his salary? - No : he did not send in vouchers for his pay. 6.- Is that very unusual? —Yes. 7. Have you any recollection of speaking to him at any time upon the subject of sending in vouchers for his salary? —Yes. On one occasion I remarked to him that we had received no claim from him for pay, and he said he would send it in in one lump, or words to that effect. It was just a casual remark. 8. That was at the time he was engaged on the work? —Yes. 9. Did you mention this fact to any officers in the Government service?— Yes. 10. Who did you mention it to? —Mr. Simpson, my chief at the time. 11. Did you mention it to Captain Seddon? —I believe I did. 12. And you were surprised that ? —That Lieutenant Clark had not claimed. 13. You gave evidence before the Committee on a previous occasion? —Yes. 14. On that occasion you did not give the evidence that you are giving now, did you? No, I did not. 15. Mr. Hardy.] When you were here before, certain questions were asked you about the handwriting of a memorandum on a document. Do you remember whether you were asked if you knew anything about it?— That is the first I have ever heard of it. I was never asked anything about that handwriting. I was never examined on that matter at all. 16. You were never asked if you knew the handwriting?— No. 17. And you did not know anything at all about any dispute or discussion as to the memorandum which was placed on the margin of the document ? —No. IK. You knew nothing about it?—l knew nothing of it. 19. You heard nothing of it?—l did hear something about, a week or two ago. 20. You heard nothing of it last year?—No, nothing at all. 21. Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones.] If I remember rightly, the point upon which you were examined by the Committee was as to Captain Clark and his claim, and how his claim came to be made up, and so on ?--Yes. 22. There was no reference to this pencil memorandum on the paper? —None whatever. 23. Mr. Lawry.] Did you inform Captain Seddon that Captain Clark had not sent in his accounts? Speaking to Captain Seddon I said that Captain Clark should have sent them in, because I had spoken to him and said we had received no claim for his pay. I said that Captain Clark could not be unaware that he should have sent it in. 24. Right lion, the Minister of Defence.] There is this passage in the evidence: "(Being asked by Mr. Hardy who the officer was. Captain Clark said, ' Mr. Williams, and also Mr. Simpson.