MR ISITT'S LETTER

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1300, 1 December 1911, Page 7

MR ISITT'S LETTER

STRAIGHT-OUT ANSWER BY MR. MASSEY. • A FORGOTTEN TELEGRAM. UNWORTHY TACTICS EXPOSED. (By Teleeraph.—Pross Association.! Auckland, November 30. The remarkable attack matlo upon Mr. Massey, Leader of the Reform party, by Mt. Isitt in connection with what is known as tho Taylor-Miwsey incident was tho subject of comment by Mr. Massey in his speech at Grey Lynn this evening. In a letter to tho "Muuawatu Daily Times," Mr. Isitt has asked why Mr. Massey has not withdrawn the statement made by him three years ago with reference to tho late member for Christchurch North. Mr. Massey explaiued the circumstances in which tho incident occurred. He said that during tho debate late one night some very serious charges were made against tho Opposition in connection with tho notorious Black pamphlet. ''I am afraid I lost my temper," said Mr. Massey, "and some other members lost theirs also. , A very bitter quarrel aroso between myself and a gentleman who lias passed away. Wo both said things that should never havo been said. Mr. Taylor diet! somewhat suddenly at the beginning of last sessiou. There was only one thing for mo to do, and I did it at tho very first opportunity. In my speech in the Addrcss-iu-Repiy debate I Hiul: 'During last session in tho heat of dchatc—tin fiercest debate which probably tho House has seen during the last ' twenty years—l referred to a statement which had been, made to mo somo years previously with regard to tho lato Mr. T. E. Taylor. I need not recount tho circumstances. I intended to deal with tho subject when I went to Christchurch somo few weeks ago to address a political meeting, and I said so. at tho time. .1 had not the opportunity there. I want to say now that [■ withdraw the statement unreservedly, jnd regret that it was made/ Applauso followed the reading of this extract from Hansard. "I do not know that any honourable man could do any more," continued Mr. Massey. "I was not asked to do it, but I was informed afterwards that it wa9 intended, by a personal friend of Mr. Taylor, that I should be asked. On the following day I received, tho following telegram:— '"Personally indebted for your ac- • tinn.' Gltul you spoko before my letter received. (Signed) Isitt.' (Loud applause.) . "1 am afraid that telegram has been forgotten," said Mr. Massey. "Now they are going to make political capital against me and my party and they are doing it from behind a dead man. (Loud cries of 'Shame.') I regretted tho incident, and I know that Mr. Taylor regretted, what ho had said. I know that if we hud had in opportunity of coming together for a iew minutes tho whole thing would have been settled. Now they aro using this against me, and I do not think it is fair. (Cries of 'No, no.') But tactics such as these will rebound upon tho peoplo who are using them rather than reflect upon me and thoso who aro working with me in Parliament." (Loud applause.)