I.—6a.

A. GRAHAM.]

125

16. What about the other end? —Carriage again. 17. And the costs are paid by the Department? —Yes. 18. Now, what is the practice in regard to packing of furniture and cartage? —It varies. Sometimes the Department does the packing and sometimes a man from an outside source does it. 19. When the Department does the packing, xvhat happens in respect to the cartage?— The Department pays. 20. If the cartage and packing is done from an outside source, what happens? —If it is a reasonable amount the Department pays it. 21. Can you quote any instance in xvhich the Department has declined to pay out-of-pocket expenses of an officer for carting and packing furniture xxdien supported by receipts showing what he has actually paid? —No, unless when lie is under punishment. 22. We have not come to the punishment clause yet?— No. 23. Ihen the only alteration in connection with the present regulation and the previous regulation is in respect to the limitation of time? —Yes. 24. Well, what happens to the man in private employment or in search of employment who goes from Wellington to Palmerston to take up employment —who pays his expenses?— Himself, I suppose. 25. Then, the Railway men in connection with transfers are getting something xvhich the outside man is not getting?— Not in every case. There are some outside firms that grant the same concessions. 26. But the general practice is for the man to pay? —That is the individual man; but if his firm is shifting or transferring him they pay. 27. Can yhi tell me of any large firms who pay?— Yes, the Union Company. They carry everything free, anil pay expenses as well. 28. Do they pay a man's expenses when he arrives at the other end and while on shore? — Yes; they pay his hotel bill if he ;s unable to get :i house. 29. For how long? —I have not known of any instance where there has been an outrageous time. 30. Have you known of any instance when- there has been an,outrageous time in connection with the Railway Department?—No, I cannot speak personally on that. 31. Well, what would you call " an outrageous time "?—A matter of five or six xveeks. 32. Well, what is your idea of the limit to xvhich the Department should pay those expenses? —-Well, if I give you an idea I am simply giving you the personal one. 33. I should like to have it?—l recognize a week is too little, and I should be strongly in favour of not less than fourteen days. That is my personal opinion. 34. Is that fourteen days going to apply to everybody in the service who is transferred? — That I cannot say. 35. Are you going to apply the fourteen days in the case of all transfers? —No, most decidedly not, Mr. McVilly. You misunderstand me. I am speaking of the maximum amount, not the minimum. 36. Supposing you fixed fourteen days as the maximum, xvhat is going to happen? —I do not knoxv what is going to happen. 37. Well, what did happen when the Department paid right vp —paid for everything? —I could not say. 38. You are a man of very varied experience; you told us this morning that you have travelled round a good deal, and you are perfectly well axvare that there is not a day goes past but xvhat the Railxvay Department is shifting a number of men —there is a number of Railwaymen always on the move? —Yes. 39. Then surely you must have some idea of the time the people take? —I could give you some idea of the time I took myself. 40. Well, xvhat was that?—l was shifted from Mataura to Edendale; 1 xvas three months living in board and lodging, and the wife and family xvere in Mataura. 41. That is thirty years ago?— Well, you have been quoting thirty years ago as well. 42. I am glad, because you are admitting that the conditions are not very much different to-day?— Then, again, I can quote you an instance more recent. I xvas transferred from the Bluff to Queenstown when the boats xvere taken over. I xvas three months in Queenstown, and lived in a hotel while the wife and family of seven were living at the Bluff, where I xvas paying £40 a year for a house, and I could not get a house even of four rooms to put the family in. 43. What expenses did you get? —I got paid three xveeks' board and lodging in the hotel out of three months. 44. What were you told when you xvere paid the three xveeks? —I was told that no further alloxvance could be granted. 45. And that three weeks was the maximum? —Yes. 46. Noxv, at that particular time can you recall any instance of officers xvho invariably took the maximum? —No, I cannot; but I have another illustration. 47. Well, xvhat was it? —When I was transferred from Queenstoxvn to Port Chalmers there was a change made with the Chief Clerk as xvell as the Stationmaster, and xx'e both had to remain in a hotel. I xvas three weeks and the clerk five weeks xvith our wives and families. 48. And xvhat expenses did you get?—We got three weeks at that time.