P. W. ISITT.]

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answer as to who gave it to you ?—lf a ballot-paper were brought to me under the same circumstances I should disclose where I got it; but many men are timid who are also honest, and this man is very timid. 57. The Chairman.] I understand you to say that you wish to consult with some of your friends before giving the information to the Committee ? —I should like to consult my friends and a legal adviser as to whether I must do so. There was no promise given in regard to the Eeturning Officer and the two ballot-papers. 58. You are quite willing to take the responsibility of any action that may be taken after you have consulted your friends ? —Yes ;. I understand I may be subject to penalties if I do not give the information.

Wednesday, 18th Novembee, 1903. F. W. Isitt further examined. (No. 2.) 1. Mr. B. McKenzie (Acting-Chairman, in absence of Mr. Symes).] When you left us yesterday I think you said you wanted to call some witnesses ? —No ; I said I wished to consult my colleagues and our solicitor as to the propriety of my answering a particular question. 2. Have you arrived at any conclusion on the subject?— Yes; I wished to consult Mr. Atkinson, both on account of his legal and parliamentary knowledge. I saw him yesterday, when he was unwell, and for that reason, I presume, he has not been able to meet me, as arranged, before I attended the Committee this morning, and I have not received his advice. I now wish to say, with the utmost respect to the Committee, that I would like to be allowed to state my reasons why I think I cannot disclose any name. , 3. You did give the Committee some reasons yesterday. If I recollect rightly, you said that if you gave the name you believed the business of the person would be ruined ?—Yes. Directly I received the ballot-paper—within an hour, I think —I saw the Returning Officer and the Police Inspector, and the paper was handed to the police. As soon as I obtained permission I first handed it to the Returning Officer, and afterwards wrote asking him to send it to the Commissioner of Police. I think I could not have done anything more. Ido not know that a man could have done anything else who was bound by a promise—a promise made before I knew what the man was going to show me. Then I let the matter stand over for six months, during which term I think the police had the power, if they chose, to take proceedings, and it was not until the expiration of that term that I asked for a parliamentary inquiry into the irregularity of the poll. I am satisfied that the men who got the ballot-paper and brought it to me had no guilty intent. 4. But you cannot say that ?—I submit that the evidence of the official who placed the ballotboxes in position would establish the fact that his story is a reasonable one. 5. That is a matter of opinion ? —lt is an opinion that weighs with me. I am asked to disclose the name of the man who brought the ballot-paper to me with the best motives, whereas the greater offence, it seems to me, was that there had been carelessness in connection with the ballot-box. In another inquiry before another parliamentary Committee we have laid down the principle that we do not wish to attack persons, but the system. We have said that we bring no charge against the individual except one of participation in a carelessness that seems to have been characteristic, and I do not think when we have refused to get our opponents into trouble that I should be asked to disclose the name of a man who, with the most friendly intent, gave me the paper and told me that he would be ruined if I gave his name. On this ground alone, and more because of my promise, I feel that I must decline to disclose his name. Mr. B. McKenzie : If you refuse to give the Committee necessary information, then it is for the Committee to consider how much further it will go into the inquiry. 6. Mr. Wood.] Did the gentleman who gave you the ballot-paper tell you how he got it ?— Yes; he told me that it was given to his son, who had been in some polling-booth, but he did not tell me where. 7. I want to know which polling-booth he got it from ?—He did not tell me that. I afterwards communicated to Mr. Commissioner Dinnie all the information I had in order that he might find out where the polling-booth was. The statement was that the ballot-box was in a pollingbooth where men were being drilled, and when I afterwards learned that it was not the Drill-shed I concluded the booth was in Buckle Street, and told Commissioner Dinnie so. The statement made to me was that some man—not my informant's son—had handed the ballot-papers round freely. 8. Mr. B. McKenzie.] Did you tell the police that that occurred some three weeks afterwards ?—Yes; I elicited the information bit by bit. First of all my informant told me that the ballot-paper had been taken from the booth where the ballot-papers had been distributed. Then, some time after that, it was in a place where men were drilling. Bit by bit I got the information seriatim. 9. Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones.] I would like to put before you the position in which you are placed. You petition the House with regard to an irregularity connected with ballot-papers, and we desire to get information to show if anybody got the ballot-papers illegally. The only one so obtained is in your possession, and our clear duty is to ascertain where that ballot-paper came from. We can only trace it back to the person who handed it to you. That is our position as a Committee?—l hold myself bound by my promise made before I saw the paper. 10. And do I understand that you decline to give the name ?—I respectfully decline to give the name. ' [The Committee deliberated. On resuming—]