D.—6

4

5. I was never charged at the inquiry " with failing to give satisfaction as ganger," although disrated and removed as the result of such inquiry. 6. If the department based the inquiry on the pretext of my not giving satisfaction, I received no previous official information of neglect of duty. 7. If I have actually not given satisfaction of late it is alone due to being called away from the regular surface w r ork to labour for railway carpenters, masons, and ballast; or other members of the gang have been called away to do similar work, as departmental instructions show. 8. I have had fifteen years' experience on the length as ganger, and I maintain that the part under my charge at the time of disrating and removal was in good running order and equal to any in the western District of Southland. 9. I complain that the complaint of Williams should have been entirely severed from the question whether I was giving satisfaction to the department. Approximate Coat of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,250 copies!, £ 2 ISs 6d.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB97.

Price 3d.]