H.—l9b.

448

[C. J. WABD.

Head Office, Leeds Street, Wellington, 13th August, 1915. The Secretary, Trentham Camp Commission, Parliamentary Buildings, AVellington. Dear Sir, —■ We understand that when our works-manager, Mr. C. J. Ward, gave evidence before the Trentham Camp Commission he stated that if pressure had been brought to bear we might have been able to supply more than a thousand pairs of military boots per month. Mr. Ward was evidently not aware that Major O'Sullivan had on different occasions urged two of our directors, Mr. It. Hannah and Mr. J. A. Hannah, to supply 7 a larger quantity, and on, one occasion, about the month of April, he begged of us to make the quantity two thousand pairs per month. Mr. Ward controls the manufacturing department of our business only, and does not deal with the distribution of the goods after they are delivered to the warehouse. It was quite impossible for us to undertake more than a thousand pairs of military boots per month, and to keep up that quantity we had to advise a number- of our wholesale customers that it was impossible for us to execute their orders. We have the plant for turning out four thousand pairs per week, but owing to the shortage of labour we are unable to extend beyond two thousand five hundred pairs, and we are in a continuous state of disorganization owing to the enlistments and the constant moving of labour from one factory to another. If it were possible to obtain a larger outprrt we would be obliged to send the goods to our own retail stores, as at present we are not able to keep them adequately supplied. No doubt, Mr. Ward could have accomplished more by working additional overtime, but excessive overtime is not a paying proposition, and cannot be entertained when working on a contract price governed by ordinary working-hours. We consider it only fair to Major O'Sullivan and his officers to bring the above facts under your notice. Yours faithfully, For R. Hannah and Co. (Limited), R. Hannah, Director-. Leo Blake sworn and examined. (No. 129.) 1. Mr. Gray] AVhat are you?—A clothing-manufacturer. 2. What is the name of your firm? —L. and J. W. Blake. 3. Your firm tenders for the supply of some kinds of clothing for- the Military 7 Forces?— That is so. 4. What sort of clothing is it?— Full uniforms and pantaloons are the garments we have been supplying. 5. Is that all?— That is all. 6. When did your contract begin?—We have not a contract: we have been supplying from order. 7. Since when? —About, the 12th January. 8. From what do you manufacture—patterns?—Patterns that we have submitted to them and that have received their approval. 9. And you make in different sizes, I suppose?— Yes. 10. Have any of your supplies been rejected? —Yes, we had a few. 11. The Chairman] AYe were told there were, I think, five hundred sent back for being too big in the collar?— That is not correct: there were not five hundred sent back. 12. Mr. Gray] Were any sent back from Trentham Camp?—l make visits tr. see that everything is all right, and on one occasion they took me upstairs to show me these garments which had been sent back from Trentham. There were several cases. I went through the garments, and found that with regard to the trousers there was nothing wrong whatever. With regard to the tunics, in the opinion of the Quartermaster the collars of some of the uniforms were too large. But we have always made the collars loose-fitting. I understand that the men wear jerseys and sweaters underneath, and if they think it is a fault, I maintain it is a good fault. 13. In making those tunics which were rejected, had you made them according to sample? —Yes. 14. The Chairman] According to sample as regards size?— Yes. 15. How could they reject them if you had made them according to sample?—l do not know. 16. Mr. Gray] It was Colonel Fulton's idea, apparently, that they were too full in the neck. He wanted them tight-fitting?— Our original instructions —and I think they came from General Godley 7 —were to make everything easy and loose, and we kept to those instructions. 17. What became of these tunics that were objected to?—I had thirty-two back for alterations, and I altered these as they required them. 18. Whose requirements were they?— The Stores', in Wellington. 19. The Chairman] It is said that five hundred uniforms issued from the Stores Department were returned by the officer commanding the Trentham Regiment. The Stores Department stated that the uniforms were all right except as to size 9. The majority of these uniforms came back and were reissued to the unit. That is what we were told. It was size 9, apparently—one particular size—that went wrong?—lt is possible that a mistake might have been made by the cutters in what we call a " lay." We cut them in lays of thirty. I examine all the uniforms before they go out. If they were out, I missed that. 20. Mr. Gray] Is it, a fact that five hundred uniforms came back?—No; I know of no more than thirty-two. 21. Which were sent, back on account of a complaint, that they were too big in the neck?— Yes. 22. You altered that and sent them out again?—l altered them, and I understand they have gone back again.