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or five assistants who do not go in the gallery. The great strain is upon the note-taker in the gallery. 12. Is Mr. Barron a satisfactory Chief, so far as you are concerned?— Yes. 13. How should future appointments to Hansard be made?—By the Speaker, on the recommendation of the Chief Eeporter. 14. Do you know of anything likely to improve the reporting in regard to the position in which the staff is placed in the House? —If the top of the Speaker's chair were lowered a little, and we were given seats in the present Press Gallery immediately above it, that would be a great improvement. 15. Is there any necessity for a Chief Eeporter; and, if so, what special qualities are necessary to fit a man for the position? —There must be a Chief Reporter. He should be a competent reporter; and should possess the power of being able to work with his staff, and yet control them. 18th September, 1895. William Bebbst.

Me. Eussell's Answbes. Hansard Office, 17th September, 1895. 1. The work has increased since I joined the staff in 1893. 2. And on account of the increase in the number of members in the Upper House, and the adoption of the time-limit in the House of Representatives. Many of the new members in the present Parliament are also very fast speakers, and more members speak in the debates (this applies to both Houses) than formerly was the case. I suggest that the strength of the staff should be made up to eight gallery reporters, as contemplated in 1893, when the appointment of an additional reporter was made. 3. I was not on the staff prior to 1893. The average time worked by the staff since that year, " before the House meets at 2.30 p.m.," has been from half an hour to an hour. 4. I can only speak of the work of the staff since 1893. 5. It is " desirable " that the Chief Eeporter should take a turn in the gallery, in order to keep in touch with the active work of the staff. It would not be altogether " necessary" that he should do so if the staff were made up to eight gallery note-takers, in addition to the Chief Eeporter. 6. Yes. When both Houses are sitting at the same time and engaged in a debate, and two reporters are detached from the Lower House to report the Council, the pressure becomes exceptionally heavy. 7. Yes. 8. Yes ; he would still have to attend to certain duties that fall to the position of the head of the staff. 9. Decidedly not—if the Chief Eeporter takes his turn in the gallery. 10. Generally to supervise the work of the staff. 11. Yes. It is a great relief, during a heavy and protracted debate, for the gallery reporter to be able to dictate a portion of his notes to an amanuensis ; it saves time. It is the system employed on the Hansard staff of the New South Wales Parliament, where several permanent amanuenses are employed. In my opinion, one additional reporter in the gallery is of more assistance than three note-takers employed as amanuenses. 12. Very. 13. Upon the recommendation of the Chief Eeporter. 14. It would be an improvement to place the reporters on the floor of the House in front of the Speaker's chair. At present there is difficulty in catching the words of the speakers on the benches under the Hansard Gallery. 15. Yes. He should be a capable shorthand reporter, able to take a turn in the gallery, if required; and, generally, should be so able to direct the work of the staff that things would run as smoothly as possible. W. H. Russell.

Mb. Goee's Answebs. Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4. As I was only appointed to the staff in 1893 I do not feel myself competent to answer the first four questions. No. 5. I have always thought that it was too much to ask of any Chief Reporter that he should regularly take a turn in the gallery. No. 6. The extreme pressure of work on the staff is intermittent, and if it were possible to obtain the services of a competent reporter when occasion required, I think it would be desirable to do so. lam aware, however, that it is difficult to get a competent man to work under such conditions. No. 7. I have already said I do not think it desirable that the Chief should take a turn regularly. If it were possible for him to do so it would, of course, relieve the pressure on everyone except himself, just in the same way as if I myself took an extra turn or two it would relieve the pressure on the others. There is no doubt an extra reporter would be an advantage ; but I presume it is a question of expense. No. 8. Very much greater. No. 9. Absolutely inadequate. No. 10. To maintain the efficiency of the staff, and be responsible for correct reporting. To recommend to the Speaker or the Government reporters for appointment when vacancies occur. To decide what should and what should not be reported. The appointment of assistants when occasion requires. To write the headings of the different subjects discussed in the House. To 2—l. 8.