I.—B.

4

[\V. SINCLAIR.

16. The letter we have to inquire into with regard to publication is a letter written by William Sinclair and sent to Mr. Carr? —The matter is vague. Was I writing to Mr. Carr, or was I publishing it to another gentleman? 1 thought it pointed to Mr. Veitch, but I may be wrong. 1 wish to call Mr. Veitch to see whether he handed the letter over to Mr. McCallum, or only the covering letter. 17. Mr. SkerreU.] Mr. Sinclair, I understand that you wrote a letter to your client, Mr. Carr I— Yes. 18. And you made a number of fac-simile copies of that letter? —Yes. 19. Signing each of the copies?— Yes. 20. The original, of course, went to Mr. Carr? —Yes. 21. How many copies did you prepare —have you .a general recollection? —Well, I sent out thirty-nine copies. 22. Signed by yourself? —Yes, to members of Parliament. 23. And among them Mr. Veitch—he was one of the thirty-nine?— Yes. 24. In Mr. Veitch's case you enclosed the copy in a covering letter which is produced?—-Yes, and in every other case. 25. Was the covering letter in each of the thirty-eight copies in the same form as that of Mr. Veitch's? —Yes, identically. 26. Including the words " Private and confidential "1 —Yes. 27. Were you requested by Mr. Carr to make any report to him as to the case? —No, but I believed it to be my duty to him. 28. Are you prepared to pledge your statement that he, at the time you wrote that letter, had not withdrawn his retainer? —Yes. 29. Was there any formal withdrawal of the retainer prior to the writing of that letter? —No. 30. Have you the evidence of any fresh facts which were not put before the Election Court? — What particulars are you referring to? 31. Relating to any of the facts on the petition?— Yes, I have. 32. I do not think I should ask, but any member of the Committee might ask, anything further on the point. I understand from you that your act in forwarding to thirty-nine members of the House a copy of the letter you sent to Mr. Carr was your own act independent of any instruction from or consent on the part of your client? —Yes, quite so. 33. Did you have any instruction from your client to present a petition to the House dealing with the result of the judgment or for the purpose of procuring statutory authority to do so?— Up to this time I have not received such instructions. 34. Mr. Seddon.] With regard to Mr. Carr, had you represented him in any way in the previous case? —The three petitioners were Mr. Carr, Mr. Lankow, and Mr. O'Sullivan, and I had appeared for the petitioners. 35. And Mr. Carr was still your client? —Yes. 36. The Chairman.] You ask that Mr. Veitch be culled? —Yes, unless Mr. McCallum will admit that Mr. Veitch received that covering letter, because in that case I have authorities that the letter is privileged. I only propose to ask Mr. McCallum a question on that point. If he did not get the covering letter it will be necessary to call Mr. Veitch. Mr. SkerreU: We never had the covering letter. Mr. Sinclair: Then I ask the Committee to summon Mr. Veitch to attend. 37. The Chairman.] Of course, this letter is written to Mr. Carr?—Yes, but as far as the publication to Mr. Carr is concerned my learned friend will admit that it is privileged. The publication sought is that to Mr. Veitch, and I have authorities to show that was privileged. 38. Mr. Lee.] Why do you suggest that it was the copy you sent to Mr. Veitch that was sent to Mr. McCallum? —Because it is stated so in Hansard, I believe. There is a paragraph in the report where he says he (Mr. McCallum) did notreceive it from a member of the Opposition. I took the lists of the division which took place in March when the Opposition were thirty-nine, and I sent a copy of this letter to Mr. Veitch, who was then a member of the Opposition. I believe it was practically admitted in the House that the copy came from Mr. Veitch. 39. The Chairman.] You have no other witness to call than Mr. Veitch? —That is all. This is the paragraph I was referring to, on page 249 of Hansard No. 3, 4th July : " I do not blame the members of this House, and I am not going to refer to any side of the House in this matter, because I have to admit at once that the gentleman who got this letter does not belong to the Opposition side of the House at all. The gentleman was kind enough to give it to me." W. A. Veitch sworn and examined. (No. 2.) 1. The Chairman.] What is your name? —William Andrew Veitch. 2. What is your occupation?— Auctioneer. 3. You reside where? —Wanganui. 4. And at the present time you are a member of the House of Representatives?— Yes. 5. We have asked you to come and give evidence with regard to this letter alleged to have been sent to you? —Yes. 6. Mr. Sinclair.] Did you receive a letter from me in March last re the Wairau election petition?—l do not know who you are. 7. I have not had the pleasure of meeting you before. My name is Sinclair? —Yes. 8. What did you do with it? —I kept that letter. I did not give it to any one. 9. Was there not a letter addressed to you and an enclosure addressed to Mr. Carr?—There was an enclosure.