THE KNYVETT CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 16, 16 July 1910, Page 8

THE KNYVETT CASE.

PREMIER'S STATEMENT AND A DENIAL. In speaking on the Knyvett case in. the House on Thursday night, it is reported ■that the Prime Minister suggested that the members of the committee •who recently toured the Dominion were (paid for their services. "One man," he eaid, "was paid £60 as his share; I know that much." The secretary of the Knyvett Committee (Mr. R. A. Armstrong) absolutely denies this statement, and in -telegraphing to the Prime Minister on the subject last night, he said:— - 'I respectfully request that you publicly state in full all you know. To my certain knowledge not a mau has received one penny for his services." All that the speakers received, it is stated, were their actufil travelling expenses, and even the money for these was not handled by them. As to the controversy regarding the attendances at the various meetings held in connection with the Knyvett case, Mr. Armstrong said:—'"l see there is considerable diecussion still going on. At Wanganui, Palnierston North, and Dimedin the weather was shockingly bad, rain pouring down-steadily and a cold wind blowing—juet the sort of nights to make people hug their firesides. At Christchurch we had better weather, but the only hall obtainable on the date fixed •was very small. All available sea.tin<* accommodation was fully occupied, and a good number nvere standing at the back of the hall. The Wellington attendance seems to be the chief 'bone of contention,' and I may say that I personally counted over a thousand just after the meeting began; at one time there were fully 1800 in the hall, and at no time from beginning to end were there lese than 1000. That also was the caretaker's estimate.

"As to the letter from Colonel Wolfe to Colonel Patterson," added Mr. Armstrong, "which it hae been said was not included in the pamphlet and which is supposed to have given Captain Knyvett an opportunity to alter his letter, it is needless to state that the committee have not had access to all the official documents in connection with the case, otherwise the pamphlet would no doubt be a very much larger book than it is. I understand that Captain Knyvett was shown the letter referred to, that he turned up the corner and it, and that it was then returned to the sender; but I am also under the impression that this took place after Captain Knyyett's letter of complaint had been forwarded to Wellington. No doubt all these points will be cleared up definitely if the 'right of appeal , clause goes through the Hou6e."

The chairman of the Knyvett committee (Mr. James S. Dickson) has sworn an affidavit before Mr. Allen J. Moody, a solicitor of the Supreme Court, in which he states that the expenses of the committee sent round to address meetings in connection with the Knyvett case were met by the money collected by ladies of Auckland, and that not on* member of the committee received any remuneration. He concludes his affidavit by stating that the statement made by Sir Joseph Ward is absolutely false.