THE MASSEY-TAYLOR INCIDENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1025, 3 August 1911, Page 3

THE MASSEY-TAYLOR INCIDENT.

MR MASSEY’S WITHDRAWAL. Last session the leader of the Opposition, while the late Mr T. E. Taylor was speaking, declared in an interjection that if he had permission to divulge a confidence he could put the member for Christchurch North out of political life. The late Mr T. E. Taylor at once challenged Mr Massey to say all he knew, and it was his determined following up of this matter which aroused so much public interest in Mr Massey’s proposed Christchurch speech. On Tuesday night, in the Address-iu-Reply debate, Mr Massey read a statement in which he unreservedly withdrew the allegation. “Before I finish on the Address-iu-Reply," said Mr Massey, “I desire to refer to a personal matter. During last session, in the heat ot debate, the fiercest debate which possibly this House has seen in the last twenty years, I referred to a statement which had been made to me some years before regarding Mr T. E. Taylor. I need not recall the circumstances. I intended to deal with the subject when I went to Christchurch some few weeks ago to address a public meeting. I said so at the time, but I had not the opportunity then. I wish to say now that I withdraw the statement unreservedly, and regret that it was made.”

Mr Massey’s statement was received with '“ Hear, hears ’’ and applause. The Hon G. Fowlds, who followed him, said that he was glad to hear Mr Massey’s closing statement. It was right that the matter should be cleared up aud done with. He congratulated the bon. gentleman ou the statemen he had made.

This development was not altogether unexpected, the matter having been tfie subject of discussion in the lobbies during the last two days. It was stated that ou behalf ol Mr Taylor’s family the Rev. L. M. Isitt had written to Mr Massey on the subject of the allegation, asking that it should be withdrawn.

When Mr Witty, member lor Riccarton, spoke last night, before Mr Massey had the floor, he made an illusion which was noted with interest. The Opposition, he said, regarded Mr Baliance as one of the seven devils of Socialism when he was alive, but when a man died they strewed his grave with flowers.

“You are going back eighteen years,” commented Mr Fisher, “ I don’t want to go back eighteen years,” retorted Mr Witty. “ 1 need not go back more than a few days.”