A PERSONAL EXPLANATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 53, 26 November 1907, Page 7

A PERSONAL EXPLANATION.

In the House yesterday Mr A. L. D. I ( raser said he had read an article in a Wellington morning paper regarding the discussion of the Waimarama Estato case in the House on Saturday, and he Wished to say that he had been misrepresented. Ho felt this becauso the action lie tool; in the special matter was such that ho was justified in saying he had.been congratulated upon the fair manner of conducting his arguments by. the Loader of the Opposition, and by the Minister in chargo of the Bill;.'and when ho was a'ccused' of doing something ho had not dono, and would not have done, he folt it very much. He had taken this opportunity of expressing his regret that 'he hadboen so much misrepresented. It would bo. remembered that when the matter, arose ho-had said he would call for no division, but would ask that a fair and impartial statement of the circumstances be laid before the House. He regretted ■ that the statement should have been circulated, and thought that the writer had criticised him unintentionally, for,on referring to the report of the proceedings in the samo paper, he found' thein 'quito 'correct. ' t .The Premier said the member for Napier had not mentioned this mattor .to him, and lie only wanted to say,'as the 'opportunity had arisen, that the lion, gentleman, at 110 time had'ondeavourcd during the session to exercise any influence as far.as 1 tho Government were concorhed, and. as far as.JlO knew any private; members were concerned,, in connection with the matter; and in view of the;statement made ho wished to mako.this quite clear, in fairness to tho. lion. gentleman. Ho recognised, and tllo Government and: the House also would, ho believed, that in tho > matter in question there wero two sides to the, .trouble.- -1 On , tho.one jsido,' Mrs. Donnelly and her friends wore doing what they thought was in the-best interests of the Natives;' and on tho other ,Miss Meinortzhagen and her friends !wore ; 'doing 'what they behoved: to be right in their interests. The juncture that had been brought about.could only have been accomplished by: tho interposition of completely uninterested people 011 both sides. This having been done, there should be ho further feeling on either side.