W. SYMES.'

57

1.—14.

219. Is that the best explanation .you can give?—He was the petitioner, and not Mr Durie 220. Is that the best reason you can give for the words in that letter I have just read?—It was owing to a dispute between Mr Hutchison and Mr Durie that it was wise Mr Hutchison should leave the matter alone. 221 That is the best explanation you can give?—Yes. .222 Bight Hon Sir J G Ward.] Mr Symes, were you ever appointed or did you ever act in the position of Government Whip ?—Never 223 Were_ you at any time employed by the Government to purchase or secure estates for the country?—No. t aVC l On eVer received at an y time an y payment from the Government or from the Purchase Department in connection with land-sales to the Government?— Never 225. Did you at any time inform any member of the then Government or present Government, or any member of the Land Purchase Board, or any Government officer, that you were being paid or expected to be paid for the services you were rendering to the lessees?—No, never n. * 1 * ii ' that was put upon the estimates to pay the award of the petitioners—was that the lull, amount of the expenses incurred by the lessees under that award in connection with the first petition ?—No. The Government must have added more, because that did not pay the sixteen or seventeen petitioners. " 227 The £2,000 did not pay them?—No. 228. When that vote was put upon the estimates and passed through the House, as the question of political influence has been introduced, Was any exception taken to the vote by any member of the Opposition ?—No, there was no exception taken by any member in the House ' 229 Mr Money.) That was in 1906?—I think it was. I have" no recollection of any one even speaking about it. ■' 230. Bight Hon. Sir J G Ward.] Would you be good enough to state what you meant to convey in your letter of the 28th July, 1906, to Mr Lysaght, when you used the words, "I hold t» P° 8ltlOn 1 ~ Simply that l had aU the information in connection with the matter 11 they had had it they would not have asked me to help them. 231. Did you mean that in any way to imply that you could exercise any control or influence over the expenditure of any part of the vote of £2,000 that was authorized on the estimates?— Most certainly not. 232 Do you think you could have exercised any influence in preventing the Government making payments out of that vote ?—Certainly not. 233. Had you ever tried upon any other vote to stop a payment? No. 234. Now, in reference to Hutchison and Haddow's matter, I understand from the correspondence that you received authority from Hutchison and Haddow to make representations to have payment of the £134 in connection with the award of the lessees made to Mr George Hutchison, and also a claim of £125 for law-costs? Yes. 235. Were both amounts paid?—I think not—only the £134, so far as I know 236 Now, the suggestion is made that you were able to exercise political influence to obtain payment of the £134 for Mr Hutchison. I assume if that were correct that similar influence would succeed in obtaining payment of the £125 for law-costs ?—Certainly it would Mr Skerrett And it had the favourable recommendation of the Committee in its favour ,. ,\, M T lt Il ? n - Str / G Ward -] And the claim of £125 had the favourable recommendation 0 0 o y h e Com mitteein lts favour? —Yes, I think Mr Hutchison was entitled to the £125 238. Mr_ Fraser] The Committee did not say so ?—Yes, they did—they gave a favourable recommendation. J 239 'Bight Ron Sir J G Ward.] Both items were recommended to the Government for favourable consideration—the £134 and the £125 ?—Yes. 240. As a matter of fact, the £125 lias not been paid by the Government vet?—Not so far as I am aware. At any rate, they have not paid me my commission, if the Government has paid it 241 Did you receive any payment from the Government or from any Government officer in connection with the amount that you obtained for Mr Hutchison ?—No, never U2 md y° u acquaint the Government or any member of the Government with the fact that you had an arrangement with Messrs. Hutchison and Haddow that you were to receive a sum ot money tor the services you were rendering in collecting Mr Hutchison s account?—No, never Aid. Now, 1 want to ask you a question in connection with the promissory note for £300 that you received from Mr Alfred Bayly you say that you did not act as his agent?—That is so 244. In connection with the promissory note for £300, did you at any time intimate to any one connected with the Government or any Government officer that you had after the sale of that land accepted a present in the shape of a promissory note for £300?—I never mentioned it to any one. 245 If you had acted in the capacity of agent for Mr Alfred Bayly upon the sale in connection with the £21,000-odd, what rate of commission to a private person as his agent would you have charged?—I should have charged 2| per cent,, which would amount to about £700 JNo agent would have taken it up under £500 or £700 to sell it. 246 The commission upon that at 2| per cent, would have amounted to £525?—I do not know .what the amount was, but I should have charged 2| per cent. 247 If that promissory note for £300 you received from Mr Bayly had been 2i per cent commission, it ought to have been for £525?—That is so. 248. With regard to the suggested presents to members which have been referred to during the cross-examination, did you make any personal intimation to any members of Parliament that vou intended to make them presents?—No, never 8—1 14.