HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. PARLIAMENT

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8964, 2 August 1905, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

PARLIAMENT

WELLINGTON, August 1. BOXING. Sir Joseph Ward gave notice to move to set up a committee to enquire into the rules of boxing in the colony. THE FISHER-CAPTAIN SEDDON " INCIDENT.

The Hon. Mr Seddon laid on tbe table a large amount of correspondence relating to the Fisher-Captain Seddon and other -incidents connected with Friday night's debate on the Imprest. Supply Bill. In reply to Mr Duthie, Mr Seddon eaid he had no intention of taking an unfair advantage of Mr Fisher during his absence from Wellington. He did not hesitate to say that Mt Fisher knew of the £ xist<eoce of the voucher to Sneddon (not Seddon) before he left Wellington, and be should under the circumstaaices, have been in his place in tne House that afternoon. Even, if he did not know the true facts of the caee before he Jeft Wellington, the press in Monday morning nei^spapers would have enlightened him, '~'and he could have caught yesterday's steamer from Lyttelton. He (Mr Seddon) wanted to keep dear of feeling in thia matter, and as Leader of the House dealing with a member of the House he must take the greatest care /to be just. He did not propose to move any motion on the eubjec't that afteT^con. He intend-ed to allow the matter to remain whoTe it ■was until Mr Fisher's return to the House. Then he (Fisher) would, no doubt, at least- he (Seddon) hoped so, take the Varikst opportunity of doing justice to himself, to his constituents, and to those

who had been injured by his statements. Mr Duthie said he believed the course proposed to be taken by the Premier was a very proper one. Mr Seddon drew attention to the clearness of the Signature (Richard Sneddon) on ;he original voucher, and said it should have been absolutely apparent to anyone who was not blinded by pass'on or prejudice, and who had not glanced at it in a great hurry. In the course of further discussion Mr Seddon said the seriousness of the position was the possibility and probability that despite the positive proof that a grave mistake had been -committed and a gross injury done to a public officer, Mr Fisher would again go into the charge on the ground that he had not seen the original voucher and the other proofs that had been submitted to the House that after- { noon. • There had been a complete refutation of the charge., and it was for the member concerned to take the earliest opportunity of saying so. When Mr Fisher had made his statement it would be for the House to say what action should be taken. . Mr Massey considered the Premier had adopted the right course in laying these papers on the table and in determining to give Mr Fisher an opportunity of making a statement. As far as Mr Fisher was concerned, he (Mr Massey) was not responsible, as Mr Fisher did not belong to the Opposition party. It should be borne in mind, however, that he was the youngest member in the House, that practically his political experience extended only over a peiiod of five weeks, and that he* scarcely knpw the responsibility attaching to his position. On these grounds he considered Mr Fisher was entitled to consideration, but it" he knew Mr Fisher at all he believed that if he was satisfied he was in the wrong he would make a, full, frank "•and honest admission of his mistake. ■Mr Seddon observed that the attack ■was a very deliberate one, and much would depend apon the way in which he made reparation.

MINISTERIAL MEMOS.

Sir Joseph Ward made reference to a Press Association telegram from Christchurch reporting an interview with Sir John Hall on the subject of Ministerial menios. Sir Joseph said he accepted unreservedly Sir John Hall's statement that he himself had never sent domestic messages as "memos.," but the statement he (Sir Joseph Ward) made in the House on Friday night that Ministers right back to the time of Sir John Hall's Ministry in 1879 had sent "domestic memos." was confirmed by the head of the Post and Telegraph Department. His statement on the subject «n Friday night was absolutely .accurate. With regard to other messages Sir Joseph Ward added that he had always paid for his business and private telegrams. *Ir" SecfcSon said that no doubt if Sir John Hall had had time to consult all his colleagues in the Ministry of 1879 his remarks on the subject of memos. would liave been different. He had the -highest . - respect for Sir John Hall, and accepted his assurance that he personally had not sent domestic telegrams as memos.. but it was evident from the statement _he had made by the Telegraph Department that > his colleagues had done so. --rrk Si* Joseph Ward produced docximents *. in pi«--oi of tliß proper appointment of a |jj£«certain officer of the aivil service whose 1 appointment had- been challenged on Fri3P day; night, and these were ordered to Ho -' >tm^thd- table.