1.—13.

47. The Chairman : If the Committee decide that I shall put Mr. Steward's question I will doso—as to whether Mr. Dargaville wishes to submit any evidence in support of the charge. 48. Mr. J. E. Brown : Before that is put I should like to consider the thing. From what Mr. Dargaville has stated now, I do not consider that there is any necessity to bother about the thing any more. 49. Mr. Montgomery : I do not express any opinion about the matter one way or another. 50. The Chairman: I would ask the Committee to allow me to do one thing before we proceed to that, and that is to ask Mr. Dargaville if he will instance any one or more charges in his speech which he wishes to substantiate ? If the Committee decide that shall not be done, then we may deliberate first. 51. Mr. J. E. Brown: Then I ask that we may deliberate, and that the room be cleared. [The room was accordingly cleared.] On Mr. Dargaville's examination being resumed, 52. The, Chairman: Mr. Dargaville, the Committee have, decided to ask you three or four questions. First, Do you intend to go outside the extracts which have been read over to you, and on which the Committee have arrived at the conclusions stated to you ? 53. Mr. Dargaville : I do not understand you exactly. 54. The Chairman: lam referring to the particular portions of the speech which were marked. Do you intend to go outside these to prove political corruption ? 55. Mr. Dargaville : Do you mean to ask me whether I want to go beyond my own statements ? 56. The Chairman : No; whether you propose to go over the whole speech, or whether you will be content to limit the matter to those extracts which have been marked. 57. Mr. Dargaville : I iatead am prepared to substantiate the charges of political corruption. 58. Mr. J. E. Brmvn: Ido not think you have made yourself quite clear, Mr. Chairman. . 59. Mr. Driver: You are aware, Mr. Dargaville, that the Committee found four or five paragraphs in your speech imputing political corruption ; you disclaim any imputation of personal dishonour ; the Committee want to know now whether, in your opinion, your proof of political corruption lies within those marked paragraphs, or whether you wish to take other parts of your speech ? 60. Mr. Dargaville : The whole speech should be taken together. 61. The Chairman: The next question is, Do you wish to make any statement bearing on the charges of political corruption ? 62. Mr. Dargaville: Now? 63. The Chairman : Yes, or in the course of a day-or so. 64. Mr. Dargaville : Certainly, if the Committee so desire. 65. The Chairman: Then the third question is, Do you intend to call witnesses to prove the charge ? 66. Mr. Dargaville : In such case, Yes. 67. The Chairman : And the last question is, When will you be prepared to produce the evidence ? The Committee want to have some idea of the nature of the evidence you wish to produce ? 68. Mr. Dargaville : I could begin on Monday. 69. The Chairman : Not to-morrow ? 70. Mr. Dargaville : Possibly I might be able to begin to-morrow, but the position in which I am placed is this : Standing as it were alone, with very considerable power and authority and legal talent against me, I must be careful not to take any false step. Not that I am particularly afraid of doing so, but I am aware that at any moment 3E-a»4iafele-te, if I gave an opportunity, I should be tripped up and annihilated ; so I wish to proceed deliberately. This is a question of great magnitude, and it is only reasonable that you should give me time. I will specify a convenient number of charges as proposed, and these may be taken as characteristic of the political actions generally that my speech refers to. I propose to take a few at a time. 71. Mr. J. E. Brown: When can you do that definitely? 72. Mr. Dargaville : The charges that I propose to go into at the outset are will probably be those which can be more conveniently proved here in Wellington. 73. Mr. J. E. Brown: But you talk about formulating these charges. When do you propose to give them ? 74. Mr. Dargaville : On Monday, if convenient to you. 75. Mr. Driver: Mr. Dargaville will probably recognize that he has had considerable time already. We have now been sitting since Tuesday week. 76. Mr. Dargaville : You adjourned till to-day, instead of yesterday, at my request. That is only one day. lam entirely free from any imputation that the sittings of the Committee have been protracted on my account, beyond that.. 77. The Chairman: Could you not facilitate business by formulating one or two charges, in order that we may commence the examination of witnesses to-morrow ? 78. Mr. Dargaville : lam not prepared to do that, because.l have to confer with my witnesses and friends. Ido not want to enter on this matter without being able to complete it. 79. The Chairman : Could you formulate one. or two charges to-morrow, so as to expedite business. 80. Mr. Dargaville : I think it will expedite business to have the matter in form at the outset. 81. Mr. Driver : Then-ryou will have it in a complete form on Monday. 82. Mr. Dargaville : Some of them. 83. Mr. Steward: You will probably be able to proceed with some of them on Monday. 84. Mr. Dargaville : Yes. 85. Mr. J. E. Brown : In writing? 86. Mr. Dargaville : Yes.

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