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I.—lo.

There have been only three instances, I think, of members' wives having their passages paid since the resolution of the House of Eepresentatives in favour of their being paid was passed. 466. The Chairman.] Are there any travelling allowances made to members in respect of their daily attendance in the Legislative Council besides those for coming to Wellington ? —Certainly not; the Act does not allow any travelling expenses except for coming from the members' places of residence to Wellington and return thereto. 467. Who inspects the Committee-rooms in the Legislative Council during the session to see that they are properly kept ? —Each messenger has a certain number of rooms to look after, and the head messenger sees that they do their work, and assists them in doing it; he is responsible if anything goes wrong. Occasionally I look round the rooms myself. 468. Do you issue tickets to the galleries in the Legislative Council?— Except at the opening and closing of Parliament there are no tickets issued, except for the Speaker's gallery. 469. Who issues tickets to the Speaker's gallery ?—The Speaker himself. (Mr. Bothamley said he would lay before the Speaker the request of the Committee for a return of amounts paid to or on account of each member in each session of the present Parliament for travelling and other expenses.) Mr. F. E. Campbell, Clerk of the House of Eepresentatives, in attendance and re-examined. 470. The Chairman.] What accounts are kept of amounts paid to members of the House of Eepresentatives on account of travelling expenses ?—There are no such accounts kept in my office ; it is not an accounting office. We send in all claims to the Treasury, and the payments are made and accounts kept by that department. 471. I understand that you have the direction of the official work that is done in the House of Eepresentatives ?—Under the Speaker, yes. 472. When members apply for their travelling expenses, does that not come under your supervision ?—Yes; but these payments are made only under the signature of the Speaker. 473. How are they made when the Speaker is not here ?—The claims are all made out and approved before the Speaker leaves-Wellington. His signature is required by the Honorarium Act. I do not mean to say that the Audit and Treasury would refuse to pass an urgent payment in the Speaker's absence on my signature, but, as a rule, the Speaker's signature is necessary, and I forward claims to him. 474. There is no account kept in your office of amounts paid for travelling expenses ? —No. 475. Is there in any office?— Certainly; these accounts are all kept in the Treasury, and obtainable at any time ; so that there is no necessity for an account to be kept by me. 476. With regard to the clerks who are in attendance upon the different Committees, are you able to give a return of how their time is disposed of from day to day ?—I have had a memorandum made out by Mr. Otterson on the subject, but there is no record kept of the clerks' daily attendance. I keep as few of these men as possible, and they sometimes take one Committee and sometimes another as they happen to be unemployed. There are certain clerks who attend regular Committees and no others. For instance, the clerks to the Public Petitions Committee and the Native Affairs Committee have their time fully occupied, and do not attend any other Committees; the clerks attending the Waste Lands and Gold Fields Committees also are generally fully occupied. 477. How is payment made to these clerks, by the day or session ?—They are paid at the end of each month, while the session lasts. 478. Are they all paid at the same rate ? —There is one exception—the Clerk to the Public Petitions Committee, who gets £1 a day; this has been authorized for a good many years past; the others get 15s. a day, that is, for every week-day while employed. 479. Can you get for the Committee a return of the amounts paid on account of the travelling expenses of members of the House of Eepresentatives and their families during the present Parliament? —I dare say the Treasury will supply it to me, but it would be better if it was ordered by the House. It will take some considerable time to prepare it, as a great deal of time is taken up in passing these accounts; but I will make application for it, and let the Committee have it if possible. Memorandum referred to by Mr. Campbell. — Ordinary Duties of an Extra Clerk of the House of Representatives. Arrives at office at half-past 9 o'clock a.m. Prepares for meeting of Committee, collecting all documents, books, &c, required, and seeing that witnesses, reporters, &c, are in attendance if necessary. Attends Committee from half-past 10 or 11 o'clock until half-past 12 or 1 o'clock, takes down notes of minutes, and assists Chairman generally. Is then allowed an hour or less for lunch, provided that his work is not interfered with. Writes out reports for signature and presentation to the House at half-past 2 o'clock p.m. on same day if required. During afternoon writes up minutes and other books of his Committee ; makes precis of petitions referred to it; copies petitions referred to the Government; reads proofs of evidence ; corresponds with witnesses and others; summons Committees and witnesses ; and assists in general work of office. Leaves at half-past 5 o'clock p.m. Takes his regular turn of night-duty from a quarter-past 7 o'clock p.m., and also attends on any evening when required, or when his work is in arrear. Copies petitions referred to Government, and other documents ; reads Bills, Acts, and papers with the Reader ; writes out lists of Committees for following day for Order Paper and for posting in the lobbies ; remains in office until House rises if necessary. H. Ottebson, 17th July, 1886. Second Clerk-Assistant, House of Eepresentatives. Captain Hokne, Sergeant-at-Arms, in attendance and re-examined. 480. The Chairman.] The Committee would like to see what accounts are kept with regard to members' honoraria and advances made on that account, also with respect to travelling expenses ? —I do not keep any account of travelling expenses, but only of honorarium. I had this book ruled for the purpose. 481. This book shows the number of days a member is absent, then the deduction for each day, the total amount deducted, and the balance due to each member ?—Yes. 4—l. 10.