25

H.—26

There was a further letter on the 15th November: — Eight Hon. Mr. Seddon. Sic, — Wellington, November 15th. Since Me. Farmar and myself wrote re our examination for a first and second mate's certificate respectively, I have the honour, sir, to inform you that whilst Mr. Frank Lawton (now A.B. on board the S.S. Queen of the South) was being examined for a mate's certificate in the home-trade service, the Examiner held a lengthy conversation with him, in which he asked him if he know either of us, and if he did, to ascertain which of us it was that had written the Premier about the Examiners, and to tell us that he would have passed our work had it not been for Major Sir Arthur Douglas, who was master of the situation. Now, sir, do you not think it an awful thing for a Government Examiner to pass a candidate's work and entitle him to a certificate, then employ him as his agent to inform other candidates that had previously failed that had it not been for Major Sir A. Douglas he would have passed him, or else he had been illegally failed, for that is what it really means. Sir, I now beg of you to do something for me, as I am a married man and have to shovel coals to eke out a living for myself and family, while being so detained, and my home is in Dunedin. Hoping to get a reply soon, —I remain, &c, Jas. L. Martin. Oldham House, Taracaki Plaoe, City. The original of this letter was copied (that is the letter of the 25th October), and on the copy are the minutes made by the Secretary, and by the officers whose conduct had been complained of by Messrs. Farmar and Martin :— Sir Arthur Douglas. As you assisted in conducting these examinations, I would like to have your remarks on this letter.—George Allman. 17/12/98. The Secretary Marine Department. This letter has been referred to me, but I must decline to discuss with unsuccessful candidates the question of either my competence or bona fides as an examiner.—Arthub P. Douglas. 19/12/98. Referred to Captain Allman in connection with my memo, to him, dated 29th November last. —W. T. Glasgow. 20/12/98. Seoretary Marine. This letter, like the contents of similar epistles, is a tissue of lies from beginning to end. For siza of rooms please see plan attaohed.—George Allman. 21/12/98. Hon. Premier. For your information. Under present circumstances it is perhaps inadvisable to go further into these complaints.— W. T. Glasgow. 21/12/98. I quite agree.—R. J. S. 21/12/98. A further minute is on the back of the copy of the letter dated the 15th November. Right Hon. the Premier. Captain Edwin and I were in the examination-room all the time Mr. Lawton was there. Neither of us had any conversation with him outside the actual examination then taking place. As a matter of fact, I had no knowledge of this correspondence till December Ist, and the statements made are false.—Geo. Allman. 17/12/98. We see that from this the Government declined to interfere in the matter. The Examiners were practically the officers, and theirs the responsibility. The complaints were simply forwarded on to the officers through the head of the department, and that is how that matter arose. I say here that neither directly nor indirectly have I interfered with these officers, nor have I influenced them directly or indirectly. They have the responsibility, and the responsibility has been theirs from beginning to end. 3. Mr. H anion.'] Now, with regard to complaints re the adjustment of compasses?— Yes, complaints were made on all sides. You might get me the file of papers in respect to the adjusters. There were complaints made by some captains that after the Act was passed it was dangerous to adjust the compasses as provided by that Act. This file partly commenced with the question which appeared on the Order Paper on the 26th July, 1895. It is as follows : — Mr. Pirani to ask the Minister of Marine, Whether the Government grant licenses to adjusters of compasses of iron ships, and, if so, on what conditions, and what qualifications are required of candidates for such licenses? If such licenses are not issued, will the Government take such steps as may be necessary to make provision for licensing adjusters, so as to ensure that the compasses of all iron vessels shall be adjusted by persons who have proved their competence for the work ? The advice to the Minister, as to reply, is as follows: — Hon. Minister. At present adjusters of compasses are not licensed, and to lioense them would require an amendment of the Aot. Prior to 1877 the law required that adjusters of compasses should be licensed by the Minister, but " The Shipping and Seamen's Act, 1877," following the law in the United Kingdom, put the responsibility of seeing that the compasses are adjusted on the owner, and the Government Surveyor is required to obtain a certificate from the owner that he is satisfied that the compasses are properly adjusted. In Victoria adjusters of compassses are licensed. I have a copy of the Victorian regulations. I understand that this is the case in New South Wales also. Captain Allman, Nautical Adviser, is of opinion that the law should be altered to give the necessary authority to license. W. T. Glasgow, Seoretary. Returned from Minister to-day.—G. Allport. 8/8/93. 4. Dr. Giles.] What session was that ? —The session of 1895. The result of that simple question was this file of papers before the matter was adjusted, and that practically meant that nothing was done. It was found to be unworkable when the regulations were passed, and I think only two or three persons in the colony, and only one in Wellington, were qualified, This is so far as my recollection serves me. It was found that Captain Yon Schoen practically was the only one here who, when the regulation was first passed, was entitled by law to adjust compasses. But the difficulty was pointed out by the captains who formed a deputation and waited upon the Minister.— M. 96/1901.—N0. 855/88 Premier's Office, Wellington, 30th October, 1896. Sir,— The attention of the Government has been called to the remarks on the regulations for the adjustment of compasses in New Zealand, which appeared in the Nautical Magazine for September last. These remarks do not correctly represent what is meant by the regulations, as it is stated that they provide for the appointment of an 4—H, 26,