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Q.-From whom does he get that money?
A. From the Military Paymaster.
Q.-Then there is no waiting for requisitions and so forth?
A.-No. The bill is prepared in duplicate. It is signed by the Surveyor and the Officer in immediate charge of the works, who is directly responsible, and then it is signed as to its general accuracy by the Commanding Engineer, and the Paymaster pays
it on that.
Q. Do you know anything of the details of the actual payment, whether it is by
shroff?
A.-There is no such person employed. They are all paid by cheque, or if small amounts they keep small sums for that purpose.
Q.-Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-There is no go-between?
A.-No.
Q.-No one to make a squeeze?
A.-No. Of course if there is 5 cents or 7 cents they get it in copper, but if there is 10 cents they get it in silver.
Hon. A. LISTER.-Do you suppose then Sergeants who are put in charge are exposed to taking bribes, or that they do take bribes?
A.-Well, I could not tell you what my suspicion is, if you will excuse me, because it is a question I would not like to answer. Our object is to keep as sharp a look out as possible to see it does not happen.
Q.-I understand you to say there would always be a risk of it?
A. Well I don't know; perhaps there might be.
Q.-Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-But you have no reason to suppose there is any?
A-I don't say that, but it is a question I would not like to answer, if you will excuse me ; it is criminating other people. The object of the whole of us in the world I suppose is that we must somehow watch each other. I doubt if we would all be extremely honest if it were all left to ourselves.
Q.-Hon. A. LISTER.-Judging from your letter I understand your main recom- mendation is that of an independent measuring officer.
A. Yes, and also that some of the foremen I have met are I think employed entirely above their capacities. I had a few little jobs to do when I was temporarily engaged in this department. One was the building of a little jetty at the Commissariat. Well a man, was sent to me who perhaps would be a very good man to superintend some workmen on the road, but as for a timber jetty, he absolutely did not know anything at all about it; in fact, it was the Contractor who was telling him his duty.