THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND PAYMENT OF FINES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8529, 7 September 1907, Page 5

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND PAYMENT OF FINES.

AN EXPLANATION.

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, September 6.

In the Legislative Council, to-day, the Attorney-General (Dr. Findlay) asked to be allowed to make an explanation in reply to a statement regarding certain references which had been made to himself by a member of a deputation which waited on the Minister of Customs yesterday. Dr. Findlay said it had been represented that he had used words to the effect that where there was a strike and the men failed to pay their fines, they should be shot down. (Cries of "Oh!") Pie would not have troubled the Council about the matter if the impression had not gained wide prevalence. That statement was so obviously outrageous that he desired to give it, from his place in the Council, a most unqualified denial. (Hear, hear.) He read from Hansard to show that he said that where a revolt against the law had taken place the harsh methods of the Riot Act might be employed. He had been referring t:> a menace to the community and the lives of the people. The last thing he thought of was that such a barbarous method should be employed fr>r the enforcement of fines. He further stated that recourse to imprisonment was unduly harsh, and that he was opposed, as a matter of policy, to the imprisonment of workers who failed to pay fines. In his opinion the offence was not one which warranted imprisonment. Means, however, should be devised to ensure the payment of fines. The words attributed to him were so outrageous that they would not be used by any self-respecting man. "I trust at least," he said, "that I will receive fair play, and be credited with this explanation." (Applause.) The Hon. J. Rigg endorsed the explanation given by the AttorneyGeneral.