185 (172)
1740/42
264. The Chairman.-Have you got a rubber signature?
A. Yes, I have two.
Q.--What sort of papers are these attached to? Would you have a rubber stamp attached to a paper like that?
(Exhibits notice.).
A.—No, these are signed at present, I only use my stamp for initials, and that is used by Mr. Carter or the Chief Clerk to stamp all these notices or letters before I sign them, to indicate that he has checked them.
Q.-So that a facsimile of your initials is merely a private arrangement between you and your subordinates, to know that it has been checked?
A.-That is so.
Q. Why should he use your initials for stamping on paper that he has passed? We know that it is the usual custom for a subordinate when he checks a paper before it is seen by the Superintendent to initial it, and there are very few documents or papers he signs which have not been checked by one or two or three of his subordinates. That is in business, and when he comes to this letter he glances at the corner and he sees it has been initialled by the man whose business it is to initial that paper. You say you give the rubber stamp, with the facsimile of your initials, to the Chief Clerk and that it is attached to every paper, and as I understand, the only reason is that it enables you to know that it was checked.
A.-There is only one uses the stamp.
Q. You said just now, Mr. Carter and the Chief Clerk.
A.-No one uses it except Mr. Carter, who is the Chief Clerk.
Q.-Why should the Secretary not use the initial stamp himself?
A.—I sign these papers, and the other papers bore ny initials. That is the only reason I have.
Q --Where are your initials-on every paper?
There is an
A. This letter is seat out, and a duplicate letter is always made out. original notice, and a duplicate notice. In the case of building, an original notice and two duplicates. The duplicates are stamped with my initials and I sign the original.
Mr. Shelton Hooper.-By your initials?
A. Yes.
Q-That it was checked ?
A. Yes.
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Q. And these are annexed to your papers for Departmental use
A. Yes.
The Chairman-I understood you to say that it was to shew that Mr. Carter had checked these papers. It may be a coolie picks up your stamp from Mr. Carter's desk, and stamps the paper. How do you know that some responsible officer has checked it? Where does Mr. Carter keep that imitation of your signature-in his pocket or in his desk ?