SCURRILOUS LITERATURE

Evening Star, Issue 14526, 30 November 1910, Page 7

SCURRILOUS LITERATURE

WARAI WORDS IN PARLIAMENT. “TOM” TAYLOR "DEFENDS SIR J. G. WARD. HOTLY ATTACKED BY MR MASSEY. [From Oub Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, November 50. There was an angry “uccnc” m the House this morning when Mr T. J a y lor took up the cudgels in defence of the 1 nmo Alinisior against recent attacks througli the medium of scurrilous literature. Tavlor said there was a spirit of nuuignity anil hostility to the Liberal partv m tins country’s Conservative journals, winch Tendered it impossible to go to their columns for an impartial view on any political question. Lately there had boon in circulation the most discreditable piece of literature that had ever been issued in connection with New Zealand politics. the pamphlet in question was designed to injure politically a man with whom he nas in frequent disagreement. The Prime Alinistcr pamphlet was the greatest scandal that bad ever occurred. Whether Opposition members' approved of it he did not know. —(Opposition dissent.) It was quite certain, however, that the pamphlet was being received with gleeful approval by thousands of people who supported the Opposition in this country. It had boon approved hy men who hoped that it was going to have destructive ctfecte aguinst the man at whom it was aimed, 'i ho kind ol publication to which ho had referred was being received with approval by certain newspapers in New Zealand which placed no restriction upon political hostility. Several Opposition members demanded : Name, name.” Mr Taylor replied that he would comply with ihe call. He had scarcely ever picked up a copy of the Opposition paper ('Dominion') in Wellington that did not contain most unadulterated poison with regard to political views. Air Anderson, in loud interjection, declared this to bo a lie, a statement which ho was compelled to withdraw. .Mr Speaker had repeatedly to call members to order (or interjecting, and lie at last threatened to "name” tho next olleuclcr. Air Massey said the speech of the member for Christchurch North had been weak, and a hopeless apology for the Government. Tho tactics of tho member in question were well known. They talked of attacking a, dead man. It was not so long ago since Mr Taylor had made an attack upon a man whose boots ho was not lit to clean. Mr Taylor’s political history proved that ho was a curse to any party’ to which ho belonged. It was because of Ids attack on the iato Air Seddon, and the mistaken idea that the Opposition sympathised with him, that tho Opposition party had been smashed at the elections live years ago. 'J he wretched pamphlet issued concerning the Prime Alinistcr was despicable. Any man asserting that tho Opposition had anything to do with it was guilty of deliberate falsehood. The Hon. 1!. M’Konzie; Who paid for publication of tho pamphlet? Mr Alassey : It was published by a man named Black, who runs a (Socialist paper in Auckland. Air M‘Laren : Ami who is behind him? Air Massey : " You probably know as muEh about "that as I do.” .Returning to his attack on .Mr Taylor. Air -Massey’ asked: “ Were that gentleman’s hands clean?” He was behind the scene when the famous ease in Christchurch arose. IE it over fell to his (Mr Massey's) lot to he in a position to tell all he knew about Mr Taylor in connection with that ease, then God help him! Mr Taylor ; I challenge you to say now anything y’ott know about me. A Alember; What about innuendoes now I Mr Alassey : If l( ever get permission to unseal my lips 1 will go to Christchmch and say what I have to say from the platform. If that day comes it will be the end of your political life. Air Taylor: If you could have done any-