CAPTAIN HOLT CATECHISED BY THE HON. MR FOX.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1340, 14 November 1872, Page 2

CAPTAIN HOLT CATECHISED BY THE HON. MR FOX.

The following are the questions put, by the Hon. Mr Fox, and the answer's given by Captain Holt, in the examination of the latter before the Select Committee, appointed to inquire as, to the nature of his overtures to Mr Harrison, M.H.R.:—

I want to know how much of Mr Harrison's statement you admit, and how much of it you deny. In Mr Harrison's evidence, page 1, he states : "Mr Holt replied, It is because you are a member that your services will be useful." Is that correct? Did you say so i— No ; 1 did not. Again, you are reported to hare said, "We have no desire to control your vote in. any way, but we thought youmighfrV^ use your influence to prevent any motion* being brought forward by the Opposition this session which might lead to a change of Government." Is that correct ?-^I want to say that 1 did not make us,e, of /* the word " we" in that sense, ,Jf J had, : I would have used the word Bjrogden. -.'■•' In what sense, then, did you use the "we"?— l US ed the "we" as one of a political party. ■

0, are you then one of a political party? — I am, in the sense that you would speak of one of your own party. I have been the acknowledged leader of •a political party for many years hack, Do you mea^n tha.t you are one of a political party in that sense of the word ? —No. ■ " ■ • • ■"■ I cannot see, then, what you meant by using the word " we" ?— I said one of a party, I think. I meant that ; but I have, had no communication of any kind with MrStafford. Is it correct that you stated, '"'"You have considerable influence over Sir Yogel. You can prevent him bringing in a vote against the Government this year" Is that the case ?— Yes. v^ Did you say, '< Hang it, man, ybujiave had your turn^ let them* ha,ve theY innings. "V7e want no further change to take place this session" ?— I do not think I put the " wo" in thereV I did not; put the " we" in th,e last sentence. . How much, then, did you put in, asd how much did you lea.ye outl tph^t is. what I want to find out. .'.". Innings,'* i& that right ?— Very likely. ' / " Any further change of Government.^ is that correct ?— I do not think I but that in. ..."■■■ Did you say,. "Mr Brogden has kept aloof from party politics during the late, debate "?— I did. Did you add, « N QW that they have got a Government they, can work with, they are a.n^ipus that they should remairi m power during the present session?"— I deny that absolutely. - You have stated that your politioal sympathies went with Mi Stafford's party?— yes.' Is it since you got into Mr Brogden's " oihce that you felt yourself at liberty to express these opinions ?— I may state that Mr Brogden makes it a rule never to interfere with his employes either as regards their religion or their politics. You have :tpld us it is only since you got into Mr Brogden's office that you have found yourself at liberty to ventilate these opinions ?— Yes. .-. , ■ In the direction of Mr Stafford's party ? —In favor of that party. • * ?^ r^ *$S %P y(>\^ Mm in Mr-Brog.

den's employment— in hia paid service 1— Yes. You knew Mr Brogden was in terms of negotiation, and had actually accepted contracts from the Government of .that day?— Yes. Did you pause to consider how far your action towards the Government to which your employers stood in such a relation was consistent with your loyalty towards your employers ?— No, I did not ; becanse, as I have already informed you, Mrß'rogden never interferes with the politics of his employes. You never paused to ask yourself if the course you were pursuing was in accordance with Mr Brogden's interest or not ; I mean iv reference to the retention of the Government in power I—No,1 — No, I did not think it was necessary to do so. If J talked to Mr Brogden about politics, he would laugh at me, and say I was too hot, or something of that kind. When you made the proposal to Mr Harrison, and talked to him about keeping Mr Stafford's Government in office, did yon do so irrespective of its results to Mr Brogden?— Yes. You had no idea whether it would be agreeable to Mr Brogden or not? — I think Mr Brogden should answer that question for himself. I wish your answer, Mr Holt, to the question. — I did not at that time. In reference to the negotiations entered into with Mr Harrison, yon say that some conversation took place between you and Mr Brogden, in which you suggested the matter to him a week or two beforo he (Mr Brogden) went to Picton. Was there anything in the circumstances which pointed to that particular time to enter upon the negotiations with Mr Harrison. Anything that mado it particularly appropriate for you to select that particular time ? — lt looks as if they were, but that ia not the case, I wanted to do Mr Harrison a good turn, and I went to him on that day, as I knew that' another person, not a member of the House, would bo spoken to on the subject, and I wanted to see Mr Harrison before anyone else was spoken to. Then the day happened to be an idle one, as both Mr Henderson and Mr Brogden had gone away to Picton. When did you enter into your present engagement as private Secretary to Mr Brogden? — I believe it was on the day of the meeting of the Assembly, or a day or two afterwards.

Have you had any previous acquaintance with the construction of railways or public works, or things of that sort ? — No ; but as private secretary I have. You have a large acquaintance with the tnerabera of the House, and you have got the run of the public offices, I believe?— No ; not particularly so now. I have been a long time out of the employment of the Goverment.

Still, you know a great number of the members, and you have got the run of the lobbies, have you not ?— As a clerk last year I had it.

You say ypa had no previous acquaintance with the construction of public works and railways. Ts that correct ?— No previous acquaintance. You entered into Mr Brogden's service when the session had commenced ?— Yes ; but J did so quite free from political reasons. He had just then got the contracts decided upon, and was about to begin them.