A WITHDRAWAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 34, 3 August 1911, Page 8

A WITHDRAWAL

MR. MASSEY'S "DISCLOSURES." THE LATIi MR. T. E. TAYLOIt. 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 Christclmrch 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 puiblic interest in Mr. Massey's proposed Christchurch speech. On Tuesday night, in the Address-in-Reply delate, Mr. Massey read a statement in which he unreservedly withdri ; the allegation.

"Before I finisii on the Address-in-Reply," said Mr. Massey, "I desire to refer to a personal matter. During last session, in the heat of debate, the fiercest debate which possibly this House had seen in the last twenty years, I referred to a statement -which hod 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 Christohurch 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 1 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 and done with. He congratulated tt)e hon. gentleman on t/he statement he hod made. NOT UNEXPECTED. This development was not altogether unexpected, the matter having been the subject of discussion in the lohbies during the last two days (reports the Times). It was stated that on /behalf of_ 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 Massey on- the subject of the allegation, asking that it should be withdrawn.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 for Riccarton, spoke on Tuesday night, before Mr. Massey had the floor, he made an allusion which was noted with interest. The Opposition, he said, had regarded Mr. Ballance as one of the seven devils of Socialism when he was alive, but when a man died they strewed his grave with .flowors. "You are uoing back eighteen years," commented Mr. Fisher. "I 'Wt want t'i go back eighteen yearr " retorted Mr. Witty. "I need not go br more than « few days." 'W COMPLETE VINDICATION." C r " VRINCr TTTE DEAD MAN'S CHARACTER. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In f he House of Representatives last evening, Mr. Poole referred to the withdrawal by Mr. Maasty of the charges made by Him last session against the late Mr. T. E. Taylor. Mr. Massey's withdrawal was not a eompJete vindication of the late Mr. Taylor's character. He asked Mr. Massey if he did not intend the withdrawal to .be a whole-souled one to let it stay there, but if he did so intend, he should have given full and complete vindication and so clear the dead man's character.