1.—14.

The Chairman: Do you ask the Committee to summon your witnesses ? Mr Myers: Yes; it is a parliamentary inquiry The Chairman Who will bear the expense? Mr Myers Surely Parliament : Parliament has referred the charges to the Committee. I shall ask you to summon a number of witnesses, and in order to save expense as far as possible I will give you a list of so many as I think will occupy a particular morning, but I ask that they be summoned by the Committee. I also ask, and, indeed, I assume that it would be the wish of the Committee in any case, that all witnesses should be sworn. Right Hon. Sir ,1 G Ward I move, That the charge No. 3, against Mr Walter Symes, be heard next Tuesday Motion agreed to. The Chairman Now, in regard to the question of the witnesses' expenses. Right Hon. Sir J G Ward Is not that a matter for deliberation? Mr Myers On the question of witnesses' expenses, if it is a matter for deliberation, I wish to point out before the Committee deliberates that this is an inquiry Right Hexn. Sir J G Ward In my opinion I think it is only right that the Committee should bear the expenses of the witnesses. Mr Myers lam obliged to the Prime Minister for that intimation, and I have no doubt the Committee will take the same view Then there will be a number of Government files the production of which will be required, and I think it might save a considerable amount of time if facilities were given to me to examine the particular files. Of course, I will indicate the nature of them prior to calling the witnesses, but I think that that course would save a considerable amount of the Committee's time, and I feel satisfied also that it would save a considerable amount of the cost of the inquiry in regard to witnesses' expenses. The Chairman Would you indicate the file or particular papers? Mr Myers Well, sir, it is very difficult to do that, but Ido not think there will be any objection on the part of the Government Departments to furnishing the files that I require, and I will give you a list of them. The Chairman I may have to rule on the question. The Government may say it is a matter of privilege. Will you state the file or files ? Mr Myers I shall require, of course, all departmental files of anj' Department relating to the purchase of the particular lands which are mentioned in these charges, and I shall require all the Treasury vouchers and all imprest vouchers in regard to those purchases, and all Native Land Court files and Native Land files in respect of Te Akau Block. Then there are other documents— for instance, the petitions. We shall require the production of the petitions in connection with the charge against Mr Symes. I will let you have a list of what is required. Right Hon. Sir J G Ward I move. That the evidence be taken on oath, and that the sittings of the Committee commence at 10.30 each morning Motion agreed to.

Tuesday, Ist November, 1910. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present Mr Hanan (Chairman), Mr Allen, Mr Fraser, Mr Graham, Mr Massey, Hon. Mr Millar, Mr. Myers, Mr Reed, Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. The Clerk read correspondence marked 10 to 30, as follows :— (10.) Telegram from Mr Major, dated 28th October (11 ) Telegram to Mr Major, dated 28th October (12 ) Notice to W Symes, dated 28th October (13.) Telegram from Mr Major dated 29th October (13a.) Letter from Right Hon. Sir J G Ward, dated 29th October (14.) Letter from Mr M. Myers, dated 28th October (15 ) Subpoena to attend to Bryan Lysaght, dated 28th October (16.) Subpoena to attend to Joseph George Haddow, dated 28th October. (17 ) Subpoena to attend to William Wilson, dated 28th October. (18.) Subpoena to attend to Samuel Gower, dated 28th October (19 ) Subpoena to attend to H. Otterson, dated 31st October (20.) Subpoena to attend to Walter Symes, dated 29th October (21 ) Subpoena to attend to Joseph McCluggage, dated 29th October (22 ) Subpoena to attend to the Secretar)', Stratford Printing and Publishing Company (Limited), dated 29th October (23 ) Subpoena to attend to William David Anderson, dated 29th October (24.) Subpoena to attend to William Charles Whitlock, dated 29th October (25.) Subpoena to attend to Walter Symes, dated 31st October (26.) Subpoena to attend to Mr Copping, dated 29th October (27 ) Subpoena to attend to John Granville, dated 31st October (28.) Subpoena to attend to James Sexton, dated 31st October (29 ) Telegram from Mrs. J Sexton, dated 31st October (30.) Telegram from John Granville, dated Ist November Resolved, on the motion of Mr Massey, That no opening addresses be required by counsel. Mr Hine, M.P , with his counsel, Mr M. Myers, and Mr Walter Symes, with his counsel, Mr C. P Skerrett, K.C., were then called.

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