"IMPROPER MOTIVES"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3159, 10 August 1917, Page 6

"IMPROPER MOTIVES"

A CHARGE AND THE REPLY

MR. HINDMARSH NAMES A MINISTER During a debate on the vcport of the Boiling Stock Commission in the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr.. A. H. Hindmarsh (Wellington South) made a protest involving a-member'of the Ministry. He 'said that Mr. M. Myers, who represented the Railway Department before the Commission, was a member of the. firm of which Sir Francis Bell, leader of the Legislative • Council, was ■head. The appointment of counsel had not-been necessary,'and ho■ would like to know why-a partner of a member of selected for a very : lucrative" task.' Replying to an interjection that Sir Francis Bell was an ■unpaid Minister; -Mr. Hindmarsh said it would be better to,'"pay tho Minister properly than to pay him.in this way." The Prime Minister raised a point of order. He said that a most improper imputation had been made against a member of the Ministry, and he must call the attention of Mr. Speaker to tho words. • Mr. ■ Speaker said that he had already had to'caution Mr. Hindmarsh for imputing_improper motives to a Minister. If_ .just- used meant .that a Minister, of the Crown had received any benefit, direct or indirect, from an appointment, then the member had done an improper thing. Mr. Hindmarsh: I never said such a thing. I said that a partner of one of the Ministers was hired as paid counsel, and I thought at a high fee. I said that he was a partner in a firm of which Sir Francis Bell was a member. • Mr. B._ P. Lee (Oamaru): He is not a partner in. this transaction. Mr. Hindmarsh: Nonsense. The Hon. AV. Fraser: It is a fact, all tho same. _Mr. Hindmarsh: A very nice distinction. This is the way it is arranged: I will take a thousand guineas on "this for myself. On the other undertaking of the firm you can have a thousand guineas. Mr. Speaker: The honourable member is certainly imputing motives to a member of the Ministry. If the honourable gentleman has a charge, ho should mako certain of his facts and then present them in a proper way. This is not a proper way. Mr. Hindmarsh: What I said was that Mr. Speaker: The honourable member must resume his seat. If the honourable .member will proceed with his speech in a proper manner he can do so. Mr. Hindmarsh: The counsel hired in this case was a member of tho firm of Bell, Gully, Bell and Myers. Another member of that firna. is a member of the Ministry. That is what Lsay. This distinction about a man temporarily dissolving partnership in order to take a big fee is not a right thing. I make no reflection upon the Minister. .'■; The Hon. W. Fraser: Ton did. Mr. Hindmarsh: I made no reflection. In replv to an interjection T said if that was the way the Minister was T>aid. then it is better he should be paid a salary. Mr. Speaker: The honourable member was inferring it. : Mr. Hindmarsh: I did not. ." Mr. Speaker: The honourable member must proceed with his speech without inferrinsr. Mr. Hindmarsh: I think that Sir Francis Bell is an honourable man.' I have always held that he is an honourable man and that he will coma out of this unsullied. I feel ft sense of my responsibility. Do you think I am taking up this matter for a joke? I daresav I am not doing myself any good w ; ith a -large number of neoole, but 1 feel that T have a responsibility. 1 said, and I repeat it, that it was a scandalous thing to appoint counsel who was not required, and that the counsel was a member of tho firm of which a Minister is head. Tho Hon. W. H. Herries (Minister of Railways) Teferred to the subject a few minutes later, "I mnde careful inquiries into the matter before Mr. Myers ■was appointed," ho said. "Mr. Myers had acted before for the Railway Department, and it was beoauso of his knowledge of' railway work that he was selected more than once by the Department for important duties. Sir Francis Bell assured me at the time that while lie was a Minister no part of the profits of the firm went into his pocket, so that Jio breath of suspicion can ever sully his name. The honourable gentleman Jiiraself has stated that so far as Sir Francis Bell is concerned no suspicion would ever rest on him." Mr. Hindmarsh: I agree with that. Mr. Herries: That clears up that matter.