D.—sa.

1895. NEW ZEALAND

PROPOSED TRANSFER OF MR. A.W.D. BELL TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT (CORRESPONDENCE IN REFERENCE TO THE).

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Mr Seddon by Leave of the House.

No. 1 Mr. A. D. Bell to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sic, — New Zealand Defences, Wellington, 26th June, 1890. Adverting to your memorandum to myself of 21st instant, of which I did myself the honour to acknowledge the receipt, I have inferred from it, and from the views which yourself and the Hon. the Minister of Defence were kindly pleased to express to me, that the transfer of my entire services to the Defence Department " for the next six months," during which period " arrangements have been made for the Engineer-in-Chief to relieve me from my duties in connection with public buildings," is of a provisional nature, and that my salary is to be £600 per annum during the continuance of such services. I may state that in the letter to me of 11th.July, 1885 (P W 85/3811—63/271), not yet superseded, by which the late Government notified the then transfer of my entire services to the Defence Department, the Engineer-in-Chief stated that he was " directed to inform you that should the defence works cease at any time your position in this (the Public Works) Department would not be prejudiced." I venture therefore to assume that it is the intention of the present Government that the condition of the now transfer, similiarly of my entire services, to the Defence Department, shall, should the defence works cease at any time, equally preserve the right of return to a position in the Public Works Department, or otherwise in the Government service, the rank and pay of which shall fairly recognise the responsibilities and grade of the offices which have recently been intrusted to me. May I respectfully ask yourself, Sir, and the Hon. the Minister of Defence to say whether this is throughout a correct interpretation of the position ? I have, &c. Aethuk Bell, Engineer-in-Charge of Buildings and Engineer for Defences. The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, &c, Wellington. Quite correct.—T Fergus, 28/6/90 W E. Eussell, 28/6/90. I concur W N Blair, 1/7/90.

No. 2. Mr A. D. Bell to the Undeb-Seceetaey for Defence. (Confidential.) Sib,— 30th January, 1893. Adverting further to your letter (M. and V 92/2254), and to my interim acknowledgment of the 10th instant, I now do myself the honour to more directly reply thereto. I trust, however, to be first allowed to refer to certain antecedent matters (as intimated in the second paragraph of my note of the 10th), inasmuch as the issues involved cannot but mark a stage in, and therefore form part of, the official record of my service. On the 6th November last, at Christchurch, the Minister sent for me, and courteously intimated to me the general tenour of his proposals as later outlined in your letter I expressed provisional acquiescence, adding that I presumed action would only follow the issue of formal instructions. The Minister however, had not been yet pleased to order the issue of these prior to the 20th ultimo, on which date a further interview (sought by myself) took place, Mr Seddon being then on the point of leaving Wellington for some time. At this I raised the question of retirement, on the following grounds among others :—