Pittock, William - Deal | Day 5

Made dozens of rosettes and flags for the Conservative party. His premises was next to the old Nat West bank on the corner of Queen Street which in recent times has been a cafe.

Witness Type: Bribee

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 4890.

    (Mr. Jeune.) What are you ? — A tailor.

  • 4891.

    You supplied goods or did work during the election to the extent of 39L. 10s. 6 1/2., did you not ? — I did.

  • 4892.

    You sent in your bill ? —Yes.

  • 4893.

    Is that your bill (handing same to the witness) ? —Yes.

  • 4894.

    By whom were those goods ordered ? — By Mr. Usher.

  • 4895.

    What did he tell you ; to supply exactly those amounts, or supply as much as you liked, or what ? — Exactly those amounts.

  • 4896.

    He came in and ordered ten dozen ROSETTES ? — Yes, that was the first order he gave.

  • 4897.

    And then “ 312 yards of Turkey twill ; 50 yards of scarlet binding ;” what was that for— FLAGS ? — The binding was used for making the FLAGS.

  • 4898.

    Then, “ Paid for making 52 FLAGS ;” you made 52 FLAGS, did you ? — You have it all there. Of course, that material made a great many more FLAGS than you have charged for them.

  • 4899.

    What became of the rest of the material ? — The rest of the material, the largest quantity of material, went to Mr. Usher.

  • 4900.

    You sent the material as well as the made-up FLAGS ? —Yes.

  • 4901.

    You are a voter, I suppose ? —Yes.

  • 4902.

    Were you here at the contest before this : in 1874 ? —Yes.

  • 4903.

    Did you get any employment then ? — Very little, indeed.

  • 4904.

    This was a better election than that then ? — I have had other orders before that have been worse ; worse than in 1874.

  • 4905.

    When you say ” worse ” you mean you got less ? — I never got anything.

  • 4906.

    In 1868 you got nothing ? — In 1868 I got an order.

  • 4907.

    A good one ? — About 30L. worth of stuff, or very near that.

  • 4908.

    This was 40L. you see ? — But I say I never received a penny for it.

  • 4909.

    The order was good, but the payment was bad. This time you got both the order and were paid ; paid directly ? — I was paid when they were delivered ; that was the condition I took the order upon.

  • 4910.

    But in 1874 you had neither order or payment ? — A small order. There was very little done, indeed, then on our side in colours.

  • 4911.

    That is what I wanted to ask you. In 1874 there was very little done in colours compared to what there was this time ? — On our side.

  • 4912.

    Were there more on the other side ? — I know but very little of the other side.

  • 4913.

    From what you remember of both elections, you say there was generally more expenditure in the way of colours than there was in 1874 ? — Than in 1874, certainly ; but I should not think there was more than there was in 1868. I should think there was more in 1868 in colours.

  • 4914.

    More even than there was this time ? — I should think very probably.

  • 4915.

    In 1868 and 1874, did you have any orders on the Conservative side ? — Oh, yes.

  • 4916.

    You are a Conservative, I suppose ? — Yes.

  • 4917.

    That is all we need trouble you with ? — Will you allow me to mention one thing ?

  • 4918.

    Yes ? — My name was mentioned yesterday respecting the colours of Sir Julian Goldsmid; William Pittock, and there is only one William Pittock in the town. It is a mistake ; it should be John ; I should like to correct that.

  • 4919.

    (Mr. Turner,) You did not supply any colours to Sir Julian Goldsmid ? — Not one ; never.