MR. HEYES IN DEFENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 62, 10 September 1910, Page 5

MR. HEYES IN DEFENCE.

ON TAXATION CHARGES. REPLY TO MR. T. E. TAYLOR. Mr. P. Heyes, late Commissioner of Paxes, was asked to-day whether he cared to comment oa certain statements made by Mr. T. E. Taylor last -night in the House of Representatives. The comment of Mr. Heyes was that the allegations and insinuations were not based pn fact and were grossly unfair. Mr. Taylor submitted that it had teen proved that Mr. Heyea was a partner in one or more businesses in Wellington. "That is not true ; it was not proved," stated Mr. Heyes. Another charge which Mr. Taylor _ laid he believed had been proved against Mr. Heyes was thab ho Jia'd permitted a certain adjustment of income tax accounts, because he was under a monetary obligation to the people concerned. "That's is absolutely untrue," said Mr. Heyes to-day. "I cannot characterise the allegation too <etrongly." Referring to another portion of Mr. fTaylor's speech, Mr. Heyes remarked : — "There is an insinuation underlying Mr. Taylor's suggestion that payment of income tax was accepted minus 10 per cent., the ordinary penalty for late payment. This insinuation is absolutely untrue." "I have never benefited by one iota in the administration of my department," concluded Mr. Heyes, "and it is grossly unfair to me to make these false insinuations and charges which are co damaging to me. It is bad enough for me to be in my present position. Yet members of Parliament, Icnowing that they are protected on the floor of the- House, are disseminating statements that injure me. I have to make a living, and these insinuations are interfering with me. They are most damaging to me in my prospects of earning a living now that/ I am in my present position. It is grossly unfair for those people to do their very utmost to damage my character and Teputation.