16 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION, 1909 



he wanted done was done as I advised, I should 

 sign the decision and be responsible for it. 



On the other hand, if he insisted on doing a 

 thing his own way, he was to sign or initial the 

 document and bear the burden as regards result. 



The first time there was trouble was when he 

 refused to initial his instructions, and denied ever 

 having agreed to do so. 



Eventually he yielded and appended his initials 

 in pencil, but so faintly that the result was quasi- 

 invisible. 



My temper flared up. I stepped up to his 

 writing-table, seized his gum-pot, and laid a good 

 dab of gum on his signature. " Why on earth do 

 you do that ?" said K. " Because," I replied, 

 " the initial will show through the gum, and you 

 will not be able to rub it off." 



I never had any trouble with him again. 



Taking him all round, as the saying is, I think 

 he is about the biggest living Englishman, and I 

 can truthfully say, " Perfidious K., with all thy 

 faults I love thee still." 



I am grieved that his time in India is up. 



It devolved on me to wind up the debate, and 

 I did so at, I fear, inordinate length. I will inflict 

 on you only my concluding sentence: 



"The reforms which have been decided upon, 

 and which will presumably become operative 

 before this time next year, will unquestionably 

 vastly increase the labour and the difficulties of 

 the Finance Member. 



" I do not fear the change. 



" Undoubtedly it will lead to increased and 

 more searching criticism, but I believe that the 



