H.—lB

CX

Thursday, 6th June, 1912. The Commission met at 10 a.m. at the Arbitration Court room. All the Commissioners were present. The following witnesses were examined on oath: A. E. Beissel, A. Washer, W. M. Roberts, W. A. Bowling, H. L. Young, S. Peden, A. Lowrie, and M. J. Forde. Friday, 7th June, 1.912. The Commission met at the Arbitration Court room at 10 a.m. All the Commissioners were present. The following witnesses were examined on oath : C. T. Munro, W. D. Mason, T. O'Byrne, J. T. Paul, M.L.C., A B. Mercer, R. Breen, J. W. Munro, W. H. Warren, T. Smith, D. A. Aitken, W. Grey, J. Clarke, J. Begg, J. W. Timlin, T. J. McCutcheon, and J. Buchan. Saturday, Bth June, 1912. The Commission met at the Arbitration Court room at 9.30 a.m. All the Commissioners were present. No evidence being forthcoming, the Commission adjourned at 10 a.m., and left for Christchurch at 11.15 a.m..

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, 10th June, 1912. The Commission met at the Provincial Council Chambers, Government Buildings, Christchurch. Dr. J. Hight, Professor of History-and Economics, took his seat with the other Commissioners. All the Commissioners were present. The following witnesses were examined on oath : W. H. Bowater, F. G. M. Britten, H. W. Heslop, Effie Julia Margaret Cardale, Augusta Elise Wilson, C. H. Ensor, P. J. De la Cour, Sarah Saunders Page, Ada Wells, Elizabeth Best Taylor, and W. B. Bray. Tuesday, I Ith June, 1912. The Commission proceeded to Sydenham at 9.30 a.m. and inspected the settlement of workers' dwellings there, in company with Mr. J. Lomas, Superintendent of Workers' Dwellings. The Commission met at 11 a.m. in the Provincial Council Chambers. All the Commissioners were present. George Harper, barrister, &c, appeared on behalf of Messrs. T. H. Green and Co. and Benjamin Limited, and stated he had advised these merchants to respectfully decline to give evidence. The following witnesses were examined on oath : G. Dixon, W. Murray, E. T. Recce, R. Allen, H. H. Barlow, D. Redpath, W. Minty, H. B. Low, E. J. Newman, J. Maher, J. Westgarth. Wednesday, 12th June, 1912. The Commission met at 10 a.m. at the Provincial Council Chambers. All the Commissioners were present. The following witnesses were examined on oath : A. Smith, A. C. Nottingham, W. Williams, M. J. O'Brien, C. P. Agar, H. A. Campbell, W. R. Gardner, W. Goss, E. W. Waller, D. Jones, G. F. Simpson, J. N. Dv Feu, and G. F. Traverra Rowe. Thursday, 13th June, 1912. The Commission met at 10 a.m. at the Provincial Council Chambers. All the Commissioners were present. George Harper, barrister, &c, representing Mr. T. Kincaid, grocer, appeared before the Commission, and stated that he had advised his client not to attend and give evidence. The following witnesses were examined on oath : T. H. Strahan, D. G. Sullivan, and M. Murphy. Mr. J. A. Flesher, solicitor, appeared for Mr. A. D. Ford (of Ford and Mirams, indent agents), who, on his advice, declined to give evidence. Mr. Flesher stated that his clients were the Canterbury agents of a North Island firm against whom an action was being brought for a breach of the Commercial Trust Act. The Chairman excused Mr. Ford from attendance for the reason given. The following witnesses were examined on oath : C. Chambers, J. C. Andersen, C. Lafferty, Jane Mitchell, E. Kennedy, F. W. Ricketts, G. Callender, R. Allen, and J. H. Howell.