MR PAYNE'S VOTE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 204, 26 February 1912, Page 5

MR PAYNE'S VOTE.

FRIDAY'S SENSATIONAL ALLEGATIONS. A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY TO BE SET UP. After tile telegraph office closed on Friday, Mr. Payne's motion that a breach of privilege had been committed and that a commission of inquiry be set up, to inquire into the. allegations against the member for Grey Lynn was carried on the voices. On the motion of the Prime Minister, the following Committee of Privilege was appointed to take the writing and publishing of the letter into full consideration:—Messrs. J. Allen, W. Fraser, J. Hanan, W. Nosworthy, E. Lee, G. W. Russell; V. Reed, J. Robertson, G. M. Thomson, W. A. Veitch, and the Hon. J. A. Millar.

The committee is to report, within three days. Mr. Massey said he intended to take the full responsibility over the matter. He would face the music and bear the punishment, if any. Even if it became necessary for him to hand in his resignation and face' his .-constituents, there would be no hanging back. He intended to get witnesses from Auckland to substantiate what was conveyed in the letter. The public must understand that he did not bring the matter up by way of a charge. All he did was to repeat a conversation between himself and Mr. 'Payne, of which the quoted extract was a part. Probably he should not have quoted it; he'did so without thinking, and he took the full responsibility for what he had done. He had no particular objection to urge against the committee, save that one of its members had for a long time exhibited great personal animosity towards himself. He would not mention the member's name, for he could not do much harm. OPPOSITION LEADER INDICTED. MR. BROWN'S MOTION. Mr. Brown then moved that Mr. M&ssey's repetition of the statement that he and Sir Joseph JWard had squared Mr. Payne was a breach of privilege. He stated that he was Mayor of Napier, and held many other responsible positions, . which he would feel compelled to re'Bign if he could not refute the charges made against him. Mr. Payne had a business in Napier, and they had both met there long before Mr. Payne had entered politics. Much might be made of the allegation, therefore, although those who knew him would not give him credit for handing out many thousands without getting value for them. • Mr. Speaker ruled that the statement was not the comment of one member made in the House about another member, but the comment of a member to a person outside Parliament. Read with the letter, it was dn order. There was a,i doubt as to whether Mr. Massey's statement was a breach,of privilege, and the motion should be- moved in this form: "That the question of whether the statement is a breach 'of privilege should be referred to a committee."

- PRIME MINISTER IN IT, TOO. Sir Joseph Ward, in seconding the motion, said he desired to be included in the motion. The statement had been circulated that while he was at Napier he, with Mr. Brown, had "s'quared'\Mr. Payne. He had never discussed the political situation with Mr. Payne, and it was of the first importance to the House and the country that he should be given the opportunity to take proceedings against the person who had circulated such an infamous lie. Whoever started the rumour must be an infernal scoundrel.

After some discussion the motion was carried in the following form:— "That the words used by the member for Franklin be referred to a committee of privilege to take such words into consideration and report to_ the House whether a breach of privilege has been committed and by whom; also to inqure as to the truth or otherwise of .the alleged charge made against the member "for . Napier and the Prime Minister." The committee was the same as- in the former case. ANOTHER PRIVILEGE MOTION. Mr. F. M. B. Fisher (Wellington Cen tral) moved: "That the statement made this day by Mr. Payne, member for Grey Lynn, to the effect that one Charles McMasters, of Auckland, had offered him a sum of money if he, the member for jGrey Lynn, would vote in a certain way, is a charge of attempted bribery against the said Charles McMasters, and that he has committed a breach of the privileges of .this House." - ■

Mr. Fisher suggested that Mr. Payne failed in his duty to the House in neglecting at the'first opportunity to report the attempt to bribe him. Mr. Forbes: The man who said it was drunk.

Mr. Fisher added that the House should afford that individual facilities to clear himself, if he could, from the imputation. The Prime Minister supported the proposal in the hope of probjng the rumour to the bottom. When all the rumours were done with it would be found that they were too contemptible for words. By all means let the House find out who was said to he behind it.

Mr. Massey: You will get it. Mr. Forbes asked if it would not make the House a laughing stock by constituting a breach of privilege out of words said to have been uttered by a man in a drunken maudlin state. The motion was adopted and this closed the discussion at 12.40 a.m. THE LETTER. Following is the text of the letter brought forward by Mr. Massey and which is the basis for the inquiry:— ; February 12th. You may remember my introducing you to young , son of —, one of my young Catholic party who do not follow Ward. He worked hard and loyally for us in Parnell, Ponsonby, and especially in Grey Lynn. He now assures me that Payne has been squared (£1000)' to support Ward on a confidence motion. So sure is he of the correctness of the information that his- dad is offering level money up to £IOO on Payne voting against you on such motion, and does not waste any money on bets without some reason. MR. McMASTERS' DENIAL. Auckland, Last Night. Charles McMaster stated to a reporter on Saturday that the. allegation that he had offered Mr. Payne, member for Grey Lynn, a bribe was ridiculous.

MR. VEITCH'S POSITION. WILL VOTE NO-CONFIDENCE. AFTER THAT A FREE HAND. Wanganui, Last Night. The Chronicle learns from an authoritative source that the rumor that Mr. Veitch (was likely to break his election pledge is quite unfounded. Mr. Veitch returned to Wanganui on Saturday, especially to meet his committee. He arrived by the 9 p.m. train, and proceeded at once to the meeting, which was largely attended. The Chronicle understands that interest in the meeting was enhanced by the fact that during the forenoon the chairman of Mr. Veitch's committee had received a telegram from

a member of the Wanganui Labor Party, at present in Wellington, strongly urging that Mr. Veitch should be given a free hand with regard to the no-confidence motion now before the House. This wag interpreted to mean that Mr. Veitch should be freed to vote for, instead of against, the Ward administration, and prominent members of his committee received the suggestion with unqualified disapproval so far as they were concerned. They said there was to be no breaking of pledges, and they did not believe for a moment that Mr; Veitch himself would think of going back on his word. Steps-were taken to ensure a large attendance at the night's meeting.. The proceedings were not open to the press, but the Chronicle was informed that the greatest unanimity prevailed, and that Mr. Veitch made it clear he had no intention of breaking his pledge, and that the meeting terminated wjth the clear and unanimous under-' standing that he ; would vote for Mr. Massey's amendment to the Address-m----il q>)y, and that once that vote had been given he should be free to vote'as he considered best on any other question that may arise.