THE "VOUCHER" CASE'

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 15, 12 July 1911, Page 7

THE "VOUCHER" CASE'

MR. MASSEY AND MR. TAYLOR. STATEMENT MADE I.V PARLIAMENT FRANK AND GENEROUS APOLOGY WANTED.

The Mayor (Mr. T. E. Taylor, -M.l'.), I was -invited by the Canterbury Political Reform League to take the chair on the occasion of Mr. W. T\ M'assey's meeting in Christehurch last (Tuesday) evening. He sent the following reply:— ."I shall have pleasure in presiding at" rile meeting to he addressed by Mr. W. K. Jfassey on Tuesday next at the Choral Hall. On November, 2!), 11)10, when, speaking in the House of Representatives, Mr. Massey used the following' words (see page -1.170, Hansard, of November 29, 1010): "'I behind the scenes in connection with that famous lawsuit, (the Sed-don-Taylor case) tlwt took place in Ohristeimrch,'' and I thank Heaven I had not 1 ting to do with it. If it ever falls to my lot to be in a, position to do so, _ T could tell a strange story in connection with it, but 1 cannot tell it at present. If I can get kave to use the information 1 possess, 1 will use it on the. platform in Cluristehurch, and then there will be an end to the lion, gentle- j man politically.' ''l expect Mr. Massey will avail himself of this opportunity of proving the allegation quoted above, and, failing Ins ability to do so, that he will tender myself and. the constituency I have the honor to represent in Parliament, a frank aiid generous apology for the slander 3ie uttered under shelter of hi* Parliamentary privileges.—Yours faithfully, T. E. TAYLOR." In. conversation with a reporter, M. Taylor remarked that if Mr. M&utey did not require him as chairman he would be present as a member of the audience. THE INCIDENT RECALLED.

The incident in question arose at the time the notorious "Black pamphlet" was under discussion in the House. In the course of his speech, Mr. Taylor, who was really responsible for the debate. remarked: "Whether the Opposition members approve of the circulation of that pamphlet or not— 1 hope they do not —it is perfectly true that that pamphlet ,is being received with gleeful spirit by thousands of men who support die Opposition in this country. . . .

It is? bci'ng approved of ,as far as possible; by who hope that it is going to .lave a destructive political effect on the-man's political fortunes against whom it is directed."

Mr. W. Eraser: You have no right to say that. ,r

Mr. Taylor: Have I no right to say Wlttit'lshave heard on the streets of this City and von the streets of. other cities ? I have h'c&nl. is having .a deadly effect, and I believe it is probably having that effect,'and it is a most scandalous attack; because I do not care if every statement in that pamphlet were true, there must be some lim.it to the responsibility of every man for his action. 1 am. not going to discuss the allegations in the pamphlet, but the innuendoes in the pamphlet are scandalous, and I make no apology for saying that that kind of publication has received encouragement from certain kinds of newspapers in New Zealand who place no restriction at all upon the hostility they display to any political opponent. . , . There was a brisk passage between Air. Taylor and Mr. Anderson (member for "Mat-aura'). Mr. Massey then delivered a very heated speech, in the course of which he said: ''We have had a. eharact.eri.-tic speech from the lion, member for Christchurch North—a speech such as we are accustomed to henr. . . . Only in jjast years those speeches were directed at that (the Government) side of the House and directed against a man who has passed away, and whose boots the 'honorable member was not lit to clean." Mr. Tayl.ov: Always-straight lighting. T do not; use the stiletto.

Mr.-Jhtiwey: The lion, gentleman sayh he does not, use the stiletto. I remember a speech delivered by the lion, gentleman not l<m« ago. . . After I nuide 11 speech lie came into tii.s place in the House, and lie told me later oil in the session lie would skin me. Xow. skinning implies «i knife, and the lion, gentleman is a good liami at using ,a knife when he .gets behind the person oil whom lie intends to use it. . . The whole history of the lion, gentleman shows that he is a curse to any political party with which he is connected. : . '. The one thing that smashed the Opposition live years ago was the fact that we were supposed to be connected with the hon. gentleman -in his attack upon the late. Right Hon. Mr. Seddon. The hon. gentleman is attacking us now, and 1 venture to say that the position will he reversed. Mr. Taylor: Tt was Mr. Fisher. Mr. Massey: I know all about it. 1 remember the bitter speeches that were made at the time, and the mean tactics that were adopted with the attack that was made by the lion, gentleman on the late Mr. Seddon—tactics with which I had not the slight est sympathy. . . It. is not a fair thing to suggest that any man on this side of the House is responsible for what is going on in connection with the pamphlet. T turn to the honorable gentleman and ask him if hi-; own hands are clean. Mr. Taylor: Absolutely.

Mr. Massey: Are they. I was behind the scenes in connection with that famous lawsuit (hat took place in Christchurch, and f thank Heaven that f had nothing to do with it. If it ever falls to my lot to be in a position to do so, 1 could tell a sit range story in connection wit h it, but T cannot tell it at present.

llr. Taylor: T challenge you to say anything you know in connection with that case.

Mr. lln*sey: If 1 get leave to use the informal ion which I possess, tlien 1 will use it, on the platform in ('hristchurch, and (hen there will be nil end of the honorable gentleman politically.

Mr. Taylor: My bands are clean, If you coud have done that you would have done it before. You leave it to innuendo.

Mi'. Mitssev: What is that? Innuendo! Is not innuendo to make men who sit, on this side of the House, and who are straight-going, decent men, responsible for a transaction which any decent, man ought to he ashamed of? I leave it to the lion, member for Chvistelnirch North.