H.—34

David Hobson Lundon— continued. Page Practically had delegated his judment to Mr. Willis .. .. .. .. .. 18 Had had no deaire to " bolster up " Messrs. Taylor and Fisher .. .. .. .. ..18 Would not have taken action if Mr. Willis had not suggested it .. .. .. .. .. 18 Had seen no wrong in sending telegram .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 Salary, £130 a year .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 Mr. Willis suggested Auditor-General's inquiry no use, and witness agreed .. .. 18 Would not have consented to telegram had he known it was to be made public .. .. .. 18 His consent to publication not asked .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 Production of cheque-blocks, cash-books, &0., at Auditor-General's inquiry necessary in his opinion to thoroughly investigate matter of voucher .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 Objeot in sending telegram not political, merely consented across telephone because Mr. Willis asked him 18 Mr. Jotot addressed Board :— Represented now Messrs. Larcombe, West, and Lundon (not Mr. Willis) .. .. .. .. 18 Pleaded— His clients influenced by Mr. Willis; want of knowledge of regulations, &o. ; making declarations often perfunctory ; objeot not political; did not realise gravity of their action ; Mr. Lundon's offence particularly slight; adverse finding disastrous to domestic life of his clients ; their action result of "good-fellowship" for Mr. Willis; would ask for leniency and charitable view; his clients merely guilty of error—not treachery; led into this error by another person .. .. .. 18 Mr. Stringer (in reply) said ; — Line Mr. Joynt took rendered remarks from him unnecessary ; validity of his arguments question for Commission; Department seriously concerned in compliance with Regulations; Reg. 44 embodied ordinary master-and-servant relationship; deprecated idea of this not applying in publio service ; referred to Mr. Morris's special warning re confidential nature of work .. .. .. .. 18 Joseph Wilms, recalled (sworn): — Mr. Willis's objection to reinstatement of charge merely question of loss of further time and money ; virtually contained in another charge .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 Board reinstated charge, as Mr. Willis not prejudiced by its withdrawal and subsequent reinstatement .. 19 Charge read, Mr. Willis denied it again, and adhered to his previous statement that he had not informed Mr. Fisher re voucher till after Mr. Fisher's election .. .. .. .. .. 19 The Board said onus of proof rested with Department .. .. .. .. .. 19 Telegram to Mr. Fisher, to give evidence .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Mr. Joynt asked Board to note Mr. Willis's evidence, page 13, in reference to his olients .. .. 19 J. Willis said: — Adhered to statements on page 11 of report .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Thought his first communication of information to Mr. Fisher shortly after session opened .. 19 Had had many conversations with Mr. Fisher .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Believed one in which information was imparted dealt with politics generally, &c. .. .. 19 Mr. Fisher asked for further information .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Gave instance of inaccuracy of Mr. Fisher's memory .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Knew Mr. Fisher's sympathies were with Mr. Taylor in Seddon-Taylor action .. ... .19 Would swear he had had no idea of assisting Mr. Taylor in this case by imparting information then .. 19 Mr. Fisher often called at office to see witness .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Witness reprimanded for this .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Mr. Fisher had given him amount of voucher, and witness quoted number .. .. .. .. 19 Witness said : " This is probably voucher you refer to," &c. .. .. .. .. ..19 Looked up memo.-book in response to request for information from Mr. Fisher, about six weeks subsequent to telling Mr. Fisher of a payment to Captain Seddon .. .. .. .. .. 19 He thought voucher quoted too late for Seddon voucher; had merely given its number, as it corresponded with amount and date supplied by Mr. Fisher .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Did not search book to " corroborate " bis own recollection .. .. .. .. 20 First Mr. Fisher asked for information re any payments, then re a particular payment .. 20 Witness had objected to Mr. Fisher apologising .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 Witness sent number to Mr. Fisher, not thinking it might be right one, but beoause it corresponded with details Mr. Fisher gave .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 Witness had spoken to Mr. Fisher on morning of his return—just outside Post-office .. .. 20 Conversation re apology in afternoon in Mr. Fisher's office .. .. .. .. .. 20 Reason for Mr. Laroombe showing him voucher : Mr. Larcombe (fellow-clerk) and Mr. Willis (Volunteer) 20 Mr. Joynt requested Board to indicate nature of their report .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 Board stated this would be breach of confidence .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 Ttlegram from Mr. Fisher ; leaving for South .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 J. Willis (continuing) — He sent number and amount of Anderson voucher to Mr. Fisher .. .. .. .. .20 Would swear he did not send any other number .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 Knew Captain Seddon had denied existence of voucher, on oath .. .. .. .. 20 Witness's reply : he had seen voucher .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 Swore it was a genuine vouoher .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 Had never told any one he had informed Mr. Fisher re voucher before Mr. Fisher was M.H.R. . . 20 P. 19 of evidence: charged " £76 4s. 9d. "to " £76" .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 Subpoena on Mr. Fisher: claimed " privilege.." .. .. .. .. .. .. ..30 Mr. Fisher waited on Board, and expressed his readiness to appear at 11 a.m., Saturday .. 20 Mr. Willis, re p. 19: re other information .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..21 F. M. B. Fisher, evidence: — First information derived from common rumour .. .. .. .. .. .. ..21 Mr. Willis gave him information subsequent to election .. .. .. .. .. .21 Exhibit E, extract from Mr. Willis's letter handed in .. .. .. .. .. ..21 Question of Mr. Willis imparting information at time of Seddon-Taylor trial .. .. .. .. 22 Mr. Willis bad made copy of list of vouchers since voucher question loomed large .. .. ..22 Re affidavits .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 General view of Civil servants' action in disclosing improper transactions, &c. .. .. 23 His interview with Messrs. West and Laroombe .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 Mb. Willis's address to Board .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 Mr. Stringer's address to the Board.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..24 Mr. Willis's reason for giving information to Mr. Fisher rather than to any other member of Parliament .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 Inquiry closed .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 Appendix .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25-29

IV