MR. M'MASTER CALLED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1376, 29 February 1912, Page 6

MR. M'MASTER CALLED.

THE OFFER A JOKE. JIR. SKERRETT CROSS-EXAMINES. Mr. Young, as counsel for Mr. Jl'llaster, now stated that tho latter was present to give evidence if the committee so desired. Unless he was wanted he did not propose to givo any evidence. The committee had heard the view expressed by Jlr. Payne that the offer was a joke, ljis client admitted the validity of this view.

Mr. Allen directed attention to the word "authorised" in Jlr. Payne's account of the offer made to him and remarked that ho did not know whether the committee wanted to hear anything about tho authorisation.

Sir Joseph Ward: I do. Jlr. M'Jlaster was now called and sworn. Examined by his' counsel he stated that ho had been secretary of Jlr. Payne's election committee. He was a wino merchant. Being opposed to Mr. Fowlds, ho took-an interest in tho election of Mr. Payne. After the latter got in there was some discussion as to whether ho would keep his pledge or not. Jlr. Young directed his client's attention to a statement by Jlr. Payne that, when ho met. Jlr. Jl'Jlaster in Auckland, on February 9, the latter was in an intoxicated condition, and asked Jlr. M'Mastar what he said to this.

Mr. M'Master: I absolutely deny it. He added that he rang up .Mr. Payne's house, on the morning of February 9 and arranged to see him at the Thistle Hotel between two and four o'clock in the afternoon. They met accordingly and Messrs. Maurice O'Connor and T. O'Connor were of the company. They had a drink. Subsequently ho told Mr. Pavno that ho would like to seo him and they went into the office of tho Thistle Hotel. He asked Mr. -Payne whether it was true that he was going to break his pledge. Mr. Payne said "No," and witness then said: "Will you como along with me to tho Auckland Club where we can see Mr. Massoyh" He wanted to take Mr. Payne to tho Auckland Club so that ho could tell Mr. Massey that he was not going to break his pledge. When they.saw Mr. Massey, Mr. Payne replied in the affirmative to a question from witness as to whether ho intended to keep his pledge to vote against the Ward Administration on a no-confnlenco motion.

Before witness and Mr. Payne left the Thistlo Hotel, the, former ma<l« a remark to Mr. Payne, in the office of that establishment. Being on very friendly terms with Mr. Payne, ho spoke by way of a joke, and Sir. Payne took it as a. joke. Witness said: "I could get ,£SOO if I could handle you." "I distinctly draw your attention, ladies and gentlemen," said the witness-(laughter)—"to this, that I mentioned no party." Witness emphatically denied having said to Mr. Payne that he was. "authorised to offer him" .£SOO to ■CIOOO to go in the direction of the Ward Administration.'' Mr. Payne was quite correct when he said that it was a joke and that he took it as a joke. Mr. Young: Is it true that you were authorised by anybody to make au offer? —"No." Mr. Myers: Tou are in the licensing trade?—" Yes." And you are also an aerated water manufacturer?—" Yes." Sir Joseph Ward: One neutralises the other. Mr. Myers: You were working throughout for Mr. Payne?—"Yes." "In the Interests of My Trade." You wore working as a supporter of Mr. Masscy's party or in tho interests of your trade?—" Absolutely in the interests of my hade." Witness remarked at this stage that Mr. Payne had .apparently forgotten asking .him at a meeting in Richmond to act upon his committee. Mr. Myers: You introduced Mr. Tovne to the Messrs. O'Connor?—"Yes." Did you happen to know that thev were supporters of the Ward Administration?— "I did not know, biit took it they were working for the trade. Mr. Skerrett: I understand that, at tho election, you supported Mr. Pavne as against Mr. Fowlds?—"Yes." It was because of his opposition to Mr. I'owlds that you supported Mr. Payne?— "Yes, Mr. Payne was an anti-proliibition-lst." Were you, after the election, a supporter of Mr. Massey?—"No." Were you opposed to tiie Ward Government?—" No." Will you be good enough to tell mc tho reason you had for taking Mr. Pavne into the private office of the Thistle Hotel to ask whether ho would keep his "pIotl"o t> vote ng.unst the 'Ward Government?— "T was being accosted every five minutes of the day by people tolling- ine that this man wojld 'rat.'" Did you havo any conversation with Mr Massey with respect to interviewing Pnvne on the subject?—" Yes." Did Mr. Massey desire you to interview Puyno on tho subject of whether lie wis going to keep his pledge or not?-N O , ho said to me that ho thought mv man would not vote with him. I saitl 1 believed he would. Afterwards witness went to see Payne in order to induce him to keep his pledgo to Mr. Massey. Suppose Mr. Payne bad assented to vour proposition to give him J!500, if you could handle him, what would you hnve doner— Lord knows! Further questioned, witness confessed that he could not explain where tho "fun of his joko came in. He admitted having mentioned a post office site at Richmond. His wife owned a site at Richmond, and he would liko to see it bought for a post office. It was absolutely truo Hint he hull miulo no offer of moiiev to Mr. Payne in connection, with the' noconfideuce vole. Mr. Skerrpll: You recognise now that that form of joko is very dangerous?—l don't, sir. To Mr. .Millar, witness said that he did not know from what source he u-j* In have received the money which ho had said he could gel; if he could handle Mr. Payne. He had no explanation lo offev. no motive, there was. nothing in bis wind about Ik. matter., and lie did not

know where the money was to come from. To Mr. Russell: Ho was secretary of Mr. Payne's general committee, 11.0 went into it for trade purpurea. The biillot on tin , liquor i.-sue might havo been finished on December 7. but .Mr. Fnwlds was not finished, lu tlie Trade they considered Mr. Fmvld* :i most dnngerons man. Mr. liii-wll: And so you beat him with another "bare majority" man?—l am glad to say we did, Mr. 'Witness added that if someljodv else made such an offer as ho had made to Mr. Payne, he would expect to seo the money "put up." To Sir Joseph Ward witness replied that ho had not bwn authorised by the Government, either directly or indirectly, (o make liny oiler of money. Mr. .Myers: And might I say tho Opposition:, "(Laughter.) Purely a Joke. Mr. Hanan: You say that this suggestion came purely from yourself as a joke, and that no suggestion was made by any person to your—l'es. Mr. Myers: 'Die Opposition candidate had been defeated at (he first ballot, and was not in tho second ballot?— That is so. And you supported Mr. Payne from first to last?— That is so. Mr. Veitch: Was there any connection between this word "handle" and the purchase of a section of ground for a proposed post office?—No, sir. Mr. Skerrelt, nt the request of his client, asked whether Mr. M'Master lmd ever suggested to Mr. l'nyne that he was supporting him only in the interests of the Trade?— Yes, I told him that. Mr. Massey, recalled nt the. request of Mr. Thomson, stated that ho saw no sign of intoxication about Mr. M'Master when the latter came to see him at the Auckland Club. Some further tiuestions having wen put, Mr. Skerrett asked Mr. Masscy: You say he (Mr. M'Master) wa? perfectly sober? —Yes. Can you understand a perfectly sober man making the joke that he faid to-day he made?—As I said, there was a good dea of feeling about what Mr. Payne proposed to do. Rumours were going around that ho was prepared to "rat." 1 could imagine Mr M'Master, who had hten Payne s secretarv, with theso things in his mind, savin", "I could probably get .6500 it I wero°ablc to get*you to vote as I require." You could understand a joke of that sort?—l have heard so many suggestions that I would not )>e surprised at anything that might happen in politics. When you mentioned it in the House you did not regard it as a joke, then?—l (lid not understand tho circumstances then ns I do now. Mr. Payne had not said that he regarcled it as a joke. The taking of evidence concluded at 3.20 p.m. The committee will report to Iho House to-day.