3

H.—34,

My Lord, — Public Service Commission, 31st May, 1912. I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that the Commission to inquire into the unclassified Departments of the Public Service met this morning, and I have to advise Your Excellency that one of its members —viz., Mr. Thomas Finlayson, of Auckland—has intimated that he will be unable to attend the Commission. The Commission proposes, with lour Excellency's approval, to continue its investigations with the three members who are present. I have, &o, W. D. Hunt, His Excellency the Governor, Wellington. Chairman.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION : EMPOWERING THREE COMMISSIONERS TO CONDUCT INQUIRY AND REPORT.

Islington, Governor. Whereas by a W T arrant issued under my hand and the Public Seal of the Dominion on the twenty-third day of May, one thousand nine hundred and twelve, William Duffus Hunt, Esquire, James Macintosh, Esquire, Peter Barr, Esquire, and Thomas Finlayson, Esquire, were appointed a Commission for the purpose of inquiring into and reporting on the efficient working of the unclassified Departments of the Public Service: And whereas Thomas Finlayson, Esquire, has resigned his position as member of the said Commission, and his resignation has been accepted : And whereas it is not deemed expedient to appoint another member in the place of the said Thomas Finlayson : Now, therefore, I, John Poynder Dickson-Poynder, Baron Islington, the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, and of all other powers and authorities enabling me in this behalf, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby authorize and empower you, the said William Duffus Hunt, James Macintosh, and Peter Barr, to inquire and report as directed by the said Commission. And with the like advice' and consent, and in further pursuance of the said powers and authorities, I do hereby confirm the said Commission, except as altered by these presents. Given under the hand of His Excellency the Right Honourable John Poynder Dickson-Poynder, Baron Islington, Governor and Com-mander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its dependencies; and issued under the Seal of the said Dominion, at the Government House, at Wellington, this seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twelve. Thos. Mackenzie, Prime Minister. Approved in Council. J. F. Andrews, Clerk of the Executive Council.