A Complete Apology

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 205, 27 February 1912, Page 5

A Complete Apology

MR. MASSEY RETRACTS HIS STATEMENTS. INSINUATIONS AGAINST CHARACTERS OF M.P.'S. A VIGOROUS DISCUSSION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this evening, Mr. Massey made the following statement:— "On Friday evening, in giving an account of a conversation between the member for Grey Lynn and myself, at the request of the former, I quoted an extract from a letter which I had read to the member mentioned. In doing so I committed a grave error. The terms of the extract suggested that a member of this House was subject to corrupt influences. Some of my own words may have been capable of this same construction, though I did not so intend them, by some members. The words I used with reference to the Prime Minister and the member for Napier appear to have been understood as suggesting that the mem-

bers I have mentioned employed some improper influence. I feel it my duty to the House, to the Prime Minister, to the member for Napier, and to the member for Grey Lynn, to express my regret not only for reading the extract, but for the words I myself used, and, further, it is due to them that I should at the earliest possible moment unreservedly withdraw all imputations against those hon. members. Ido not believe that a bribe has been accepted by eny member of the House, or that any member has offered another a. bribe. My statement is made without previous consultation with my party, and I have only been guided by my own sense of what ia due by one man to another and by a member of the House to the House." Mr. T. Mackenzie said he hoped the statement would be made to include Ministers, as Ministers, and that he would state that they had not accepted bribes. He went 'on tq say that in Auckland and elsewhere it was said that it was impossible to obtain grants unless £5, £lO or £IOO were left on the Ministerial door-step. Members: "Oh, no!" Mr. Mackenzie: "Oh, Nos are all very well, but this state of affairs exists." The Hon. T. Mackenzie said he wondered why Opposition members, especially the Leader, had been afraid to discuss the Speech from the Governor. They adsolutely refused, to discuss it. They deplaned to enter into a discussion on a policy which embodied the amelioration of the community. With regard to the land question, he stated that the Opposition had made a point of crying about people who had 'left the country because they could not obtain land. This was absolutely incorrect. People who had left this country had done so because they had made money. They had gone abroad to Argentine and Canada to obtain larger holdings than were obtainable here, where the area of country was . limited. They had gone forth as colonists, just as people seeking small areas came here from the Old Country. With regard to the statements that people should not invest their money here, statistics showed that the earnings on invested capital were from 23 to 35 per eent. per annum. The president of the Bank o'f New Zealand had some few months ago said .the country was in for a period of low "prices for agricultural products, but the present conditions showed that he had made .a false-de-duction. An attempt had been made to politically assassinate their leader. He was accused of receiving pickings from loans, paying the country's money to divert the ship which brought him from Home after the Imperial Conference. Everyone knew these were false, and he dared anyone who knew similar cases to come forward and state them honestly. When this political turmoil had passed his (Sir J. G. AVard's) name would stand forth for the reforms he had invented and passed. They had'thrown him into a pit like his namesake of old, but he would come to be the leader of the country. The Hon. Mackenzie then entered into details in defence of the Agricultural Department, and pointed out what it had done to help the farmer. If the Opposition wanted to criticise the Department, they should criticise him and not the officers, who were doing their best in the interests of the country. Speaking on the land question, he emphasised the fact that large estates must be broken up. Public opinion at the present time, he said, was started by newspapers established for the purpose of making money for* shareholders, and therefore for capitalists. It was not public opinion in reality. There was a suppression of the truth, and a suggestion of the false, and it was that which was more influencing public opinion at present than anything else. Referring at the close of his speech to the refusal of the Opposition to give a pair to Mr. Wilford, he said they expected to win, but if they won by one or two votes, which he did not think they would, what a victory! 'lt would be a matter which would never be forgotten. The Opposition was endeavoring to capture the votes of members on the cross benches. He was not going to go any further than to say to them to vote as their constituents and consciences dictated. Mr. Laurenson said the motion moved by Mr. Massey was not directed against Sir Joseph Ward. He had announced his intention to resign the leadership of the party of his own accord immediately after the division. The motion was directed against the Liberal Party, and thereby against the Liberal programme. He had never heard so much inference and inuendo given utterance to during recent years. Charges had been levelled against the administration right and left, but never one had ever been proved. Only to-day a man from Taranaki had sent him a telegram containing a charge against a Taranaki member. He did not intend to read the extract from the telegram, nor would he read the whole thing. He reviewed the legislation passed by the Liberal Government during the past ten years. No more radical legislation had ever been passed. He proceeded to uphold the provisions in the Governor's Speech, and maintained that the Opposition were bitterly opposed to them. Mr. R. W. Smith declared the Opposition had conducted a campaign of inuendo. H asked what had the Opposition done for Labor? Nothing! On the contrary, the Government had for 21 years been putting labor legislation on the Statute Book with one hand and holding the Opposition off with the other. It was not the worker who w»c behind •the Reform Party, but the man with money. He was looking forward to-night to the division, and had not very much care as to the result.

Mr. Myers said that nothing- more gross in the nature of inuendos had taken place in the past in connection with politics. In private life the members of the Opposition were honorable men, but he could not understand the political tactics of the party. The Opposition had been misled if it had convinced itself that all it had to do was to assemble in Parliament, take a vote, and then be esconced in the Treasury benches. If the electoral laws had been more perfect the Opposition would have had ten seats less than they now hold, and the Liberals three more than at present. The

silence of the Opposition showed that it had been wrong in its anticipation. Persistent efforts had been made to drive out of office the present leader. There was no doubt the Liberals had not lost their constructive ability. Mr. Olover moved the adjournment at 11.45. HOW THE APOLOGY WAS KECEIVED. A NEW SITUATION MAY EVOVLE. OPPOSITION MAY WIN ON THE MOTION. HON. T. MACKENZIE IN VIGOROUS FORM. , By Telegraph—Own Corespondent. Wellington,, Last Night. All day all eyes were fixed in the direction of the Privilege Committee, and none of them say anything. Speculation was rife and rumour revelled in abundance of invention when the House met. At 7.30, the first fact transpired, and Mr. Massey formally withdrew all aspersions in the Payne interview and expressed sincere regret for having mentioned them at all. It was an error of judgment to have merely mentioned them as current. llr had not. of course, endorsed them, but he realised that he o'.iyht not to have mentioned them at all. This means that the Privilege Committee's work has been substantially diminished. It has now only the unsigned Payne letter to deal with. In that matter, I undn-stniid, nothing more was done than to make the necessary arrangements for the summoning of two or three witnesses from Auckland.

It is understood that the writer of the celebrated letter was not McMasters, as has been surmised in certain quarters. Whoever he is, he will be before the committee presently. It is likely that counsel will be employed by both sides, a matter I hear much of, but without being in a position to speak with certainty on the point. Among the committeemen I have spoken with, the impression seems to be that the proceedings will probably not last long. No one would be surprised to see the debate end at any moment, but the general idea is that it will be kept going till the committee reports. The eternal count of heads has veered to-day_ since the publication of the Wanganui proceedings, and the political weather cock is far the present set at a majority of two for the "Reform" party. There is an not deep but cutting its way down slowly in men's minds, that, a new situation, may be evolved out of the Payne case. The o»e thing certain is that Mr. Massey/s error of judgment has not improved his reputation for leadership. That is'the cause of the above impression, and whether it has force behind it time will telL The debate to-night was la high bore affair. The Minister of Agriculture opened with a slashing speech, carrying the war into'the enemy's country with the vim which in former days,made his reputation as the fighting member for Clutha.

Mr. Laurenson followed with calmness, and sustained again a combination new in his form, one which suggested the care, study, and elaboration expected from a candidate for Cabinet rank in the perhaps not dim future. His defence of the strong initiative of the Prime Minister, supported as it was by quoting of the legislation desired to be carried through during his leadership, was very telling, and his denunciation of the unsupported condemnations of the other side was happily vigorous. Mr. W. Smith, breaking a lance for the Liberal party, showed the great improvement in debating power which the work of one Parliament sometimes brings about in those who work with a will. In his first session (1909) Mr. Smith was nervous and halting and crude. Last night it was pleasant y to listen to his selfpossessed fluency and well ordered speech. ,

THE LATEST PROM THE LOBBIES. POSITION INTENSELY INTERESTING. Regarding the latest developments in connection with the present Parliamentary session v. Wellington -correspondent of the, ElthUm Argus telegraphed yesterday:—The privilege business has 'disturbed all calculations as to the duration of the session, which cannot be ended until the committee has reported. ■ It is rumoured that the four Labor members will vote with the Government on the no confidence motion. Should they do so the parties will be exactly level, leaving it to the casting vote of the Speaker to decide. His vote, as a matter of course, must go with the Government under such circumstances. However some maintain that Mr. Veitch's first vote will go against the Government in the first division, and this is highly probable, leaving him a free hand afterwards, when he would probably support a reconstructed Liberal Ministry. . The setting up of the Privilege Committee is not by any means directed against Mr. Massey, but there is a determination to discover the writer of the letter containing the charge of bribery. As a matter of fact the name is already well known, but it is necessary to obtain evidence. It is said that Mr. Massey will refuse to disclose the name of the writer. This would be contempt of Parliament and would lead to further procedings. Governments supporters are somewhat jubilant over 'the position of affairs, believing that they will now be enabled to discover the authors of many lyhu* canards circulated at election time, and interesting discoveries are. expected. The Prime Minister says he has information that a prominent supporter of the Opposition (not a member) paid large sums of money for the circulation of the notorious Black, pamphlet. The position is intensely interesting, and no one can tell what a day may bring forth.