15

H.—26

Mr, J. Hutchison's Speech, 36th August, 1893. (I-) The honourable member for Palmerston alluded to a certain candidate who was examinee! in a writing examination. Ha scarcely quoted the full case, Sir. lam informed by a responsible citizen that there ia at the present time a captain in command of a passenger-carrying coastal steamer who was allowed to fill in his examinationpapers in a private house. My informant also assured me on his word of honour that the candidate's hand was guided in the formation of every letter and figure in the examination-papers. If I were to give a vivid picture of this man engaged in the laborious task of holding the candidate's hand I would require to be allowed the same privilege which was claimed by the Minister of Lands, and I should have to put in Hansard a sketch of the two men's hands doing the work; but unfortunately lam limited to the meagre resource of my tongue to depict the laborious process. And, Sir, this captain is in command of a vessel carrying living souls every day on tbe coast of New Zealand, and that is how he obtained his certificate of competency. Mr. Seddon.—lt is almost impossible for it to be correct, Mr. J. Hutcheson.—Well, I asked my informant, if he were compelled by a superior authority to go and give his evidence, what would he say in the event of his being charged with the onus of proving the fact? He said, " I would ask the man to write his name, and he could not." Now, the captain's examination, Sir - Mr. Seddon.—How long sinoe is that? (2.) Mr. J. Hutcheson.—Quite recently, Sir. Does the Bight Hon. the Premier know of a case where a candidate for a master's certificate of competency was failed by reason of his inability to perform a mechanical and physical impossibility ? Last year a captain now in charge of one of our passenger-carrying coastal steamers came to me and complained ho was failed because the Examiner wrongly alleged he could not perform almost one of the last questions in his examination-paper. He was given the data for a cross-bearing ;he oould not make the bearings cross, and the Examiner promptly failed him. He came to me and complained. He said he was certain that he was correct and the Examiner wrong. I said, "Itis a difficult matter to sheet home." But a little pressure was brought co bear on the authorities, and the Right Hon. the Premier knows that when he submitted the matter to the Nautical Adviser of the Government, who was instructed to test the problem and project it on the chart, be produced parallel lines, and any tyro in geometry knows that parallel lines never meet; consequently, the bearings could not cross. That candidate was allowed to resume his examination from the point where he had been wrongly failed, and although I am given to understand that the examiner tendered his resignation, I do not know that it is yet accepted by the Government. (3.) Sir, I will pass from that, and there is one more case I will give. In the introduction of a new style of examination, and in the use of a new instrument called the " deviascope," the working of certain examination-papers was prepared outside the department, and certain clerical errors and erasures and faults in the figures were made by the preparer, and, strange to say, the papers of two successful candidates now in the archives of toe Marine Department carry the same mistakes and erasures as the originals contain. But these candidates have got certificates, and are now licensed to adjust compasses. Sir, the proper adjustment of compasses is an exceedingly important thing. The deviation-card—a wrong deviation-card—in the hands of a captain of a steamer is as a lighted matoh in the hands of a child against the open mouth of a barrel of gunpowder. With this was another paper. At the same time that this was placed before me that I have just now read there is a minute saying, " The following remarks have no connection whatever with Mr. Hutcheson's statement." This is in Captain Allman's handwriting, and came before me about the time that the other statement came to me :— The following remarks have no connection whatever with Mr. Hutcheson's statements :— During 1896 the question of granting Captain Jones, of the " Duco," a certificate of service as master in the coastal trade was brought under notice and considered from time to time. Captain Yon Schoen took a prominent part in it, You will, perhaps, remamber that he and Jones interviewed you ; you sent foe me to give particulars ; I had none to give, not having previously seen Jones's papers. A day or ho afterwards you sent me Jones's papers. On the envelope was a memorandum to this effect: " Can you do anything for this man ? " After examining Jones's papers, I replied on same envelope that I did not think so. My object in mentioning this incident is that some days afterwards Captain Yon Schoen showed me the same envelope, and inferred that I had blocked the way. [I returned Mr. Jones's papers and certificates, envelope and all, to Mr. Jones.—B. J. S.] I told him it was not so, and that I considered Jones as good a coasting master as there was in New Zealand. From this date up to the time of your departure for England I did not hear any more on the subject, until the Hon. Hall-Jones told me he had a communication from you on Jones's behalf. Knowing Jones personally as a good seaman and captain, and well capable of doing any coastal work, I suggested to the Hon. Hall-Jones that he might be allowed to go up for examination. Geo. Allman. Placed before me, 16/12/98.— R. J. S. 74. That is not dated ?—No. I put this minute on the paper : — The Hon. the Minister of Marine. I have gone carefully through these papers, and am shocked at what is therein disclosed. Captain Allman's conduct, aocording to his own admissions, is reprehensible in the highest degree. I advise that you should place these papers before the Secretary of Customs, who is the head of the Marine Department; and he will report and suggest, no doubt, what course should be followed. Prompt and decisive aotion is necessary. Attach these to the other papers.— B. J. S. 17/12/98. Mr. Hall-Jones on the same day says, " Mr. Glasgow.—(Urgent.)—For recommendation please.— W. H. J. 17/12/98." I may also say that 1 sent for the Solicitor-General, and discussed the position with him as to what course we should take. 75. Did you get any reply from Mr. Glasgow ?—There is a letter from Mr. Glasgow dated the 17th December: Hon. Minister of Marine. I have the honour, in accordance with your instructions, to report ag follows on Caplain Allman's memorandum on Mr. Hutcheson's charges :— 2. Captain Allman's admissions that he was obliged to place himself under Captain Yon Schoen'a tuition in view of the new regulations governing examinations in the use of the deviascope is fatal to his standing as Chief Examiner. If Captain Yon Schoen could so master the details of these regulations as to understand what was required from candidates in reply to the questions stated, tbe inability of the Government Examiner to do the same without tuition raises a serious doubt, to say the least, of his competency. In any case he has made a serious mistake and indiscretion in seeking assistance from a teacher of navigation whose pupils would come before him for examination. 3. There is the further admission that he got Captain Yon Schoen to work a set of papers for his (Captain Allman's) own use and guidanoe, that is, to work out the answers to questions copied from a Board of Trade examination-paper. The Chief Examiner should be able to work out answers himself to any problem.