ALLEGED BREACH OF PRIVILEGE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10571, 29 February 1912, Page 5

ALLEGED BREACH OF PRIVILEGE

THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE. McMASTERS ON OATH. (By Telegraph — Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Nighi. At the sitting of the Privilege Committee this afternoon, Charles MoMasters was sworn and examined by Mr'Yoving. Hie witness said he was., a vAne merchant, and had opposed Mr Fowlds' candidature. He denied being Intoxicated on the occasion of the. alleged offer of money to Mr Payne. He detailed'the .circumstances leading up to the meeting with Payne." Witness introduced the latter to the Messrs O'Connor. He subsequently saw Payne at the Thistle Hotel, and asked him if it was true he was going to break his pledge. Witness asked Payne to go along to the Auckland Club, and to meet Mr Massey. Payne did so. Witness asked Payne in the presence of Mr Massey if he intended keeping his pledge to vote against Sir....Joseph Ward. His reply was "Yes."-'Witness said to Payne, by way of that he could get £SOO if lie could "handle" him. Payne took it as a joke. Witness mentioned no party. He denied Payne's statement that witness said he had been authorised to. make the offer. He had not been so authorised.

To Mr Myers: He was working for Payne at the election in the interests of his trade.

To' Mr Skerretrt: After the. election he was not opposed to Sir Joseph Ward. His reason for asking Payne if he intended to break his pledge was that he-had been told by many people that Payne would not. He opened the conversation with Payne by saying that he could get £SOO or £IOOO if witness could "handle" him.

Asked where the humour was in this statement, the witness said .it was a joke, pure and simple. He was under the impression when he spoke : to Payne that there would be a dissolution, and' he desired to secure the', Grey Lynn seat against Mr Fowlds. H© did not own property at Richmond. His wife owned property there.

Mr Millar: Where did you expect to get £SOO if Payne broke his pledge ?

'Witness: From no source whatever.

To Mr Russell: It was suggested by Mi- Payne's committee that witness should bring pressure to bear on the former in order that he should keep his pledge. To Mr Reed: When he approached iPlayne, witness had confidence in him, and felt that he would say he would keep his pledge. Sir Joseph Ward asked the witness if any suggestion had been made that the Government was in any way, directly or indirectly, connected with the offer. Witness: None whatever.

(Replying to Mr Myers, witness 'said he supported Hayne at both the first and second ballots.

In answer to Mr Skerrett, witness said he told Payne he only supported him in the interests of the trade. CVli' Massey, who was called, said there was no sign of intoxication on MoMasters when he saw him.

Mr Skerrett: Could you understand why McMastor, if properly sober, should make such an offer? Mr Massey said ho could understand such a thing. Mr Payne did not tell witness that he understood the offer was a joke. This concluded the evidence. The Chairman announced that the Committee would deliberate, and submit its report to the House to-mor-row.