MR PAYNE'S VOTE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XL, Issue 5776, 1 March 1912, Page 5

MR PAYNE'S VOTE.

ALLEGED BRIBERY.

THE .EVIDENCE OF McMASTER

By Telegraph —Pre=s Association. .-:;■•;..■■■■ Wellington, Thursday.

The Parliamentary Privilege Committee resumed it* sittng yesterday afternoon for the purpose of taking evidence in connection with the allegation of attempted bribery of Mr Payne. Charles McMaster, of Auckland was called, and, in reply to his counsel tMr Young) he stated that he was the secretary of Mr Payne's election committee. The reason for him being associated with the committee was on account of his hostility to Hon. G. Fowlds. McMaster went on to say, in answer to a question whether he was under the influence of liquor on the occasion referred to by Mr Payne, that it was untrue. He denied it absolutely. He had heard that Mr Payne was going to break his pledge, and he, therefore, asked him to go along with him and see Mr Massey at the Auckland Club. First of all he rang: Mr Payne up, asking him to meet him, and a converastion took place in the office of the Thistle Hotel. "I said to Mr Payne, as a joke—and-he.took it as ■a joke—that I could get £500 if I could handle him. I mentioned the name of no per on and no parly." Mr MasKoy was recalled by Mr Thomson, to whom he stated that when Mr McMaUer called to see him he saw. no sign of intoxication about him. MrSkerrett: Can you understand a perfectly sober man making the joke which he has sworn today he did make?

Several members of the committee objected to the question.

Mr Skerrett submitted that he wa= entitled to put the question, and the chairman upheld him.

Mr Massey explained that there was a good deal of feeling about the pos ibility of Mr Payne ' ratting." and he was therefore not very much surprised at anything in the shape of a joke in politics.

This! concluded the evidence, and the committee proceeded with its deliberations "m camera.