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get out of his work, and a man of that kind you cannot put in the same street with an honest fellow who has probably come by an accident or illness through no fault of his own. I would always strain the rules to protect an active, well-doing man, but I would not do so if I saw an imposition. No; I would keep the imposter at arm's length. It is, of course, a man's duty to discriminate between these two classes, and to deal differently with the men. If the company chose they could take a man to his home and discharge him. They are not compelled to keep him there. They could, if they wished, take a man to his home, put him ashore, and they would be done with him. As far as I know, we have never asked the benefit society to attend to men whom it is the company's duty to attend to. They are two different things altogether. You might see sometimes that we have an action in the Court disputing a claim with a man, but that is only on a particular occasion. We seldom go to Court with these cases, and I suppose it costs us £600 or £700 a year to deal with such cases—men to whom the company need not legally pay anything, as it was not the company's fault they met with accidents. The society bears its own burdens. It is completely clear, and is managed apart altogether from our company. The men appoint half the number on the committee, and of the other members of the committee two are wharf-labourers—the wharf manager and an engineer foreman. Mr. Ness is the treasurer, and Captain Strang is acting vicepresident. So far as I have heard, the men have had pretty well the whole working of the society themselves. There has never been any dispute between the society and the company. The men deal with it themselves, and the rules have gradually been altered to throw the power into the hands of the members. I see it has been stated that Mr. Mills and myself, being trustees, could keep the money in the bank. 49. No one said that. What was spoken about was the legal position of the funds in the bank ?—Well, it was stated that we need not pay the money to the society. That is a mistaken idea, because we are only the trustees for the society, and we could be compelled at any time to hand over the money to the members. The committee have no power over the money, and neither have Mr. Mills and myself. If the men wished to dissolve the society they could vote as to what should be done with the money, and the decision of a majority would settle the matter. 50. Hon. Major Steward.] But the company must consent ?—I do not know that they need consent. At all events, if the question was decided by a majority of the members there could be little trouble over it. 51. Eule 77 says: "It shall be lawful for the members, at some meeting to be specially called for that purpose, to dissolve the society, and to direct in what manner the funds and other property of the society shall be appropriated or divided: Provided that the society shall not be dissolved without the votes of consent to such dissolution and appropriation or division be obtained of five-sixths of the then existing members, nor without the consent in writing of the company, and of all persons, if any, then receiving, or then entitled to receive, any sum or allowance from the funds, unless the claim of every such person be first duly satisfied, or adequate provision made for satisfying it; and for the purpose of ascertaining the votes of such five-sixths of the members as aforesaid every member shall be entitled to one vote." You see the consent of the company is required, as well as the vote of five-sixths of the men ?—I do not suppose the company would interfere if the funds were being properly distributed. The company keeps a certain amount of control, seeing that they have supplied a good slice of the funds. No; Ido not think the company would care to meddle if the thing was being carried out in order. As to the benefit society, I am satisfied that a man should belong to some society or the other. When this society was formed there were about sixty-six belonging to other societies in the company. Young men object to it, and the reason they object is this : They think that when paying into the society they are doing it for the married men's benefit. I believe, however, that the committee has had a return prepared, which shows that of the two classes of members, married and single, the single men have got most advantage from the society. They feel aggrieved, however, at having to pay in, thinking they are doing it simply for the married ones. I think, myself, that it will be a bad thing for the members when the society is done away with. The society was formed with the view of combining the company and its employes in a bond of union. Through it the men would take some interest in the company, and it would not be a case of drawing their wages and leaving the company without any more ado. It has always been thought, especially by Mr. Mills, who has taken an active interest in the matter, that something should be done to keep the men together—particularly to keep the good men together —so that they might promote the interests of the company. 52. To maintain a friendly feeling between the men and the employers ?—Yes. The men never complain that we ill-use them ; we never had a complaint of that sort. In his evidence, as reported in the papers, Mr. Belcher also said, "It seemed strange that the company should first reduce the wages of the men, and then force them to join a benefit society." The fact of the matter is that trade was very bad, and we were paying no dividend. So bad was the trade here and in Australia that there came a time when wages must be reduced, and in Australia they were taken down £2 a month, but the Union Company reduced by only £1 a month. It was said at that time that the wages were reduced with the object of compelling the men to become members of the society, so as to provide for themselves in some way, but I think, if the society was not in existence, you would have a class of useless men—men always fretting for something. 53. The Chairman.] Subscription-lists ?—Yes ; subscription-lists. I think that the men feel that having this society they get rid of such lists. 54. Hon. Major Steward.] One witness said so ?—Yes, I believe one man did say so. Mr. Belcher also said that the men's subscriptions to the society were deducted from their wages ; but if that is done it is completely against the rules. Of course, you will always find some over-zealous men. Even in politics it is so. It is sometimes not your enemies you are frightened about so much as your over-zealous friends, and so it is with this sort of thing. Mr. Belcher also says that the society was formed to save the company's purse. Well, the company never had any idea of