A "BREEZE" IN THE HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 168, 16 July 1892, Page 5

A "BREEZE" IN THE HOUSE.

(BY TELEGKAPH.—SPECIAIi.REPORTER.)

Wellington, this day. A peculiar affair occurred during his speech last evening when the Hon. J. G. Ward, the Po3tmaster-General, said that the leader of the Opposition had written a statement with his own hand containing matter damaging to the credib of the colony and had handed it to an agent of the Press Association to be telegraphed throughout the colony, and to be ultimately cabled to Europe and appear in summaries for Europe. On the conclusion of Mr Ward's speech, the Hon. Mr Rolleston rose to make a pergonal explanation. He said that to assist the press he was in the habit, whenever he was about to address his constituents, of making a summary in the shape of somewhat full notes. This ho handed to the newspapers, telling them to listen carefully to bis speech, as he could not guarantee following the notes absolutely, and to make any alterations necessary. The confidence thus shown had never been abused until in the instance quoted ; by the Postmaster-General, whon he handed to a person connected with tho Press Associatipn and with the "Lyttelton Times," a statement of what he proposed to say to hia Hulswell constituents, asking him bo use ib and to see that he was carefully reported. A course had been taken with regard to thab statement which was clisgracefnl to the Press Association, disgraceful to the oflice from which it came, and disgraceful to the Ministry which had inspired the system ol espionage.

The Minister for Education having drawn attention to the last expression, the Speaker informed Mr Rolleston that he must not accuse the Minister of having inspired espionage.

Mr Rolleston said he would withdraw tho words, but he would leave it blank for the benefit of any gentleman on tho Ministerial benches connected with the " Lyttelton Times."

The Minister for Education sprang to his feet, and said : "I want to know, sir, doe 3 he mean me ?"

Mr Rolleston : " Yes; yes, certainly I do 1" and continuing, he said thab anybody connected with the "Lyttelton Times" Office should hasten to clear themselves from the disgraceful charge of using a communication which had been given in confidence for totally difierent purposes. The Postmaster-General said that what he had said he bad read was from the Press Association telegram in the " Evening Post," the Association's report of the speech at Halswell, and what he had said was that this report had been inserted in a summary which had gone to Europe. This statement was'assailed with cries of "What about the handwriting?" "You said ib was in his own handwriting," and Mr Rolleston demanded that the Minister should produco this document to which ho had referred.

The Minister of Education said that Mr Rolleston had inferentially charged him with using his connection with the " Lyttel ton Times " oflice to get out of some one a statement thab Mr Rolleston had given to a reporter. That charge was without foundation. Ho (the speaker) wa3 away on the Ea3b Coast of this Island when ho read the Press Association report in the papers, an ( d when he came back to Wellington he was told that the statements contained in the message were not used by the leader of the Opposition on the platform, but In a summary given to a reporter for publication..

The Minister's' explanation was received with crie3 of " The handwriting ; what about the handwriting ?"

Mr Rolleston said that the explanation would nob leb the Minister off. ': Tho statement as to these matters being in hie own handwriting must be cleared up. -.-•■•

Cries of " time" here indicatod that the supper adjournment had come to close the incident, but instead of going ab onco from the Chamber, the member., gathered in little knots and held heated conversations,'among^ which the word "handwriting " could be heard repeatedly.