TOO BLUNT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 3 July 1924, Page 5

TOO BLUNT.

A PLAIN REQUEST. "Wanted a knighthood. BY CABLE— PRESS ASSOCIATION —COP X RIG ttT LONDON, July l: In the knighthood case, Mr. Henry Wright, plaintiff’s solicitor, said the plaintiff refused to pay £IO,OOO cash, but .then agreed to give £BOOO cash, a piece of land at Birkenhead, and a lecture hall, the whole to be given in the form of donations to the college ambulance. Harrison showed him a list of names which he declared were being recommended for various ho.nours. At an interview plaintiff was very t blunt and.made it perfectly plain that I he was giving the donations as a payment . for the knighthood. -"Witness asked for receipts for the deposit, show, ing it to be a payment on account of the knighthood, but the defendant refused on the ground of public policy. He did not regard the negotiations as ta disgraceful bargain because so much bf that sort of thing was going on. I Anna Robins gave evidence that she Introduced the plaintiff to a Conservative Party official at defendant’s request. She impressed upon the plaintiff the necessity of being tactful in conversation with the official, but he Fas tactless, and bluntly told the kfficifil he had come for a knighthood. BheMenied that she asked plaintiff for HQO as a payment for the introducPwn, but he promised her a gift of that amount' She had previous experience of this of thing, having rendered similar assistance to three others. Plaintiff, recalled, said hi s holdings in Parkinson, Ltd., were £IOO,OOO. The Judge'stated that the contract, if it existed, was tainted or illegal, hut before giving judgment he would hear plaintiff’s counsel.