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I.—6b

122. Mr. G. Hutchison.] If it had been laid on the table in print; otherwise it would be seen to be different from, the manuscript ? —Yes. 123. Hon. Sir J. Hall.] There may be alterations of an important character?— Certainly. 124. And it would be bound up in the Appendix as professing to be the paper laid on the table of the House, when in point of fact it was a different paper?— Certainly. The responsibility would rest entirely with the Printing Office and whosever orders they may be acting under. The papers themselves are not seen until they are bound up with the Appendix. 125. Mr. G. Hutchison.] Is it in your recollection that the public works estimates which were brought down —the Public Works Statement—on the 27th September, were incomplete, withdrawn, and a new set brought down? —Speaking from memory I recollect they were. I recollect noticing the omission of a page myself and pointed it out. But lam only speaking from memory. 126. The records show it ?—They show it, I believe. 127. Another message from His Excellency came down some days later with a corrected copy of the estimates?— Speaking from memory, I think that is the case. I have some recollection about it. I think there was an interleave. 128. Hon. Sir J. Hall.] Are you aware of any previous case in which a Parliamentary paper laid on the table of the House in a printed form has been altered without the sanction of the House ? —No, lam not aware of it. I cannot say there has been anything of the kind, to my own personal knowledge. 129. Mr. G. Hutchison.] On the 29th September, No. 12 in the Journals, it reads: "Public Works Estimates.—On the motion of the Hon. Mr. Seddon, ordered : That the order made on the 27th instant referring His Excellency the Governor's Message No. 11, enclosing publicworks estimates to the Committee of Supply, be rescinded and the estimates withdrawn." 130. These they brought down afresh?—At any rate, after. 131. Hon. Sir J. Hall.] Are you aware whether there is a separate account kept of printing done by order of Parliament and printing done by order of the Government ?—That is a matter that rests entirely between the Printing Office and the Executive. We have no knowledge. 132. You have no knowledge whether there is a separate account kept of printing done for Parliament ?—No knowledge at all. Except as to the printing of Hansard, I know nothing. As to Hansard, I have accounts sent me every month, and, on the authority of the Government Printer, I pass them as Hansard accounts. They are for printing Hansard. 133. Mr. Tanner.] Papers are laid on the table of the House: are they in two forms ; in manuscript and in print ?—Yes. 134. Do the officers of the House have the custody of these papers when laid on the table of the House? —Yes. 135. What do you mean by the term " officers of the House "?—During the session ? 136. Yes. The gentlemen who have the custody of papers laid on the table of the House. I have been trying to find out for three years ?—Well, I could only name them all: the Clerk, the Clerk-Assistant, the second Clerk-Assistant, and the Becord Clerk, or Clerk of Bills and Papers, are the only four permanent officers of the House. 137. Four in number ? —Yes. 138. They take charge both of printed papers and manuscript papers ?—Yes. 139. Do they keep the printed papers supplied to them—-which are laid on the table of the House —for compilation in the Appendices ; or do they put aside these copies and afterwards receive others which come up from the Printing Office ?—You are talking now of printed papers. 140. Yes. Of printed papers only ?—A certain number come up from the Printing Office, say a hundred and fifty, for distribution amongst the members. Some of the remainder are kept in store and never touched until they are bound up. The rest remain in store until such or any time they are wanted. 141. Those papers which are laid on the table of the House in a printed form are not always bound up to form the Appendices ? —No, never. 142. You say the officers are responsible for manuscript papers laid on the table of the House, and afterwards sent to be printed ?—-Yes. 143. Are these officers responsible for verbal corrections of the printed papers when these printed copies come back?— Yes. 144. How can they vouch for the verbal corrections when printed unless they compare the Written copy and the printed document? —They do compare them. 145. Do you know of any case where papers have been extracted from the file of papers on the table, and when orders have been issued for those manuscript papers to be printed ?—I have no knowledge. 146. Are you aware of any charge of that kind having been made ?—Am Ito speak from memory of anything I may have heard, sitting in the House ? 1 have no knowledge officially of anything of the kind. 147. You have no official knowledge ?—No. 148. Have you heard any charges of that kind in the House ? —I have Some faint recollection of something of the kind occurring last session in regard to some railway papers. I am speaking from memory of what I heard incidentally in the House. 149. You have no knowledge of files of paper being printed in a less perfect form than when laid, in manuscript, on the table of the House ?—No official knowledge ; in fact, no knowledge. 150. Mr. Wright.] The alteration of the figures 295,978 appearing upon page 14 of D.-238, laid upon the table of the House, to figures 391,501 appearing upon page 14 of D.-l, bound up in the Appendices, was made without your knowledge?— Without my knowledge. 151. The Government Printer, I presume, is the responsible officer?— Entirely so.