B. MOOHJi.J

29

I.— bA.

■j. .nr. MvDuuyall.] You stated just now that an attempt was made by the VVangauui men in 1915 to form a Tradesmen's Association? —In 1912. 4. You mentioned the subject of the ballot-papers and the fact of casuals voting. Do you know what we mean by the term "casual"? Who may be employed, you said, for a month: can you give a specific instance?—l can give you two instances where casuals have voted. In the carpenters' show in Petone there were two men who had less than two months' service, and they voted on that particular occasion. 5. Does not the A.5.11.5. allow the casuals to vote on all questions if they are financial members?—As a rule we do not take them in until they have been twelve months in the Department. 6. Is there a rule to that effect?—'No, there is no rule; but we do not do it, in Petone. 7. You mentioned just now about the fitters holding a stop-work meeting. Are you sure there was such a meeting ? —Yes. 8. What do you call a stop-work meeting?-—Well, they had a meeting in the Department's time. 9. If 1 deny that what would you say?— You can deny it if you like. 10. Would you accept my denial of it? —That remains to be seen. 11. When you say we had it in the Department's time do you mean that we were paid for it?—l do not know whether you were paid for the time, but I know that it was in working-hours that the meeting took place. 12. If 1 tell you these special men you mentioned—the fitters —applied to their foreman under the regulations of the Department and were granted the time would you deny it?—l am not going to contradict your word on that point, but I say that they had a meeting in the Department's time and during working-hours. 13. You referred to a petition in 1910 that went before the General Manager when the tradesmen were allowed to put their own case, and that they afterwards found out it was successful? —They got no direct answer from the General Manager as to whether the request would be granted or not. 14. You also said it was left to the A.S.Ii.S. to push forward?— That is so. 15. Were you an executive officer at that time? —In the following year I was. 16. You will remember the occasion when you and I had a talk together?— There were so many times we met together that it is quite impossible for me to single out a single one. 17. But in reference to this particular matter?-—That was before I was elected to the executive council. 18. You represented Westport at that time, did you not?— Yes. 19. And they appointed you distributing secretary for their various centres?— Yes, that is so. 20. Because of the action of Mr. Barnett and the Dunedin Tradesmen's Committee not passing the circulars or letters through your hands you threw up that position, did you not? —No. 21. You took offence at that? —I did not throw the position up. 22. But you took offence at it?— Seeing that I was Dominion secretary J thought the correspondence should go through me. 23. And I agreed with you? —1 do not know whether you did or did not. 24. Did the Petone committee let the matter drop after you say they were unsuccessful?— No, the Petone committee did not. 25. What action did they take?— They had one interview with a member of Parliament, and that was the only thing they did as far as I am aware of. 26. If I were to produce correspondence of all that took place, and which you are well aware of, explaining about the various committees that were set up and how to go about the business, would you deny it?—l do not know what correspondence you are going to bring along any more than any member of this Committee, and I am not going to commit myself to anything you may bring along. 27. Mr. Veitch.\ How many members are there on the executive of the A.S.R.S. ?—Eight councillors and one president. 28. How many of those are tradesmen?— Three. 29. Mr. Field.] Is there anything in the constitution of the A.S.R.S. to limit the number of men in any particular branch of the service, or have the tradesmen got a fixed number: is it possible for the council to be elected without having any tradesmen on at all? —It is possible with regard to the workshops department that perhaps a, labourer may be elected, but it has not been done so far. Mr. Mack: There has been one instance. 30. Mr. Field.'] It is not a fact, then, that every branch of the service is entitled to representation on the council—it is quite possible for the tradesmen not to be represented?— Yes. it is quite possible. 31. What is your trade?— Carpenter. 32. There were something like two thousand voting-papers printed or issued, and do you suggest that a large number of the tradesmen did not vote? —Yes; 1 think a large number of the men did not vote on the very important question the tradesmen considered. 33. Do you suggest any other means of ascertaining the feeling of the tradesmen on the subject?— No. 34. Do you think another ballot of all the tradesmen would show any different result?—lt might do. 35. Can you suggest any reason beyond that which has been disclosed before this Committee for this unrest amongst the tradesmen and the desire to succeed? —I can only say that they seem to think they would be able to do better by their own representations, and whilst some of them hold that opinion there is a large number who think they would not do so.