MR MASSEY’S APOLOGY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15862, 27 February 1912, Page 7

MR MASSEY’S APOLOGY.

HIS BRIBERY SUGGESTIONS. UNRESERVED WITHDRAWAL IN PUBLIC. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, February 26.' Immediately tho House of Representatives mot to-night to resume discussion of tho no-confidence motion, Mr W, F. Maesey, leader of the Opposition, asked leave to make a statement on a matter arising out of his speech and out of the reading of an extract from a letter suggesting that Mr Payne, member for Grey Lynn, had been bribed. Mr Massey asked the indulgence of the House to make the following statement which lie had written :

“ On Friday evening last, in an account of a conversation between the member for Groy Lynn and myself, at the request of the former I quoted an extract from a letter which I had read to the member mentioned. In doing'so I oommitted a grave error. The terms of the extract suggested that a member of this House was subject to corrupt influences. Some of my own words may have been capable of such a construction, though I did not intend them to be so construed. ■ Some of my remarks with reference to the Prime Minister and the member for Napier appear to have been misunderstood as suggesting that the members mentioned employed some improper influence. I feel it my duty to the Prime Minister, tho member for Grey Lynn and the member for Napier to express my regret, not only for reading the extract, but using the words. Further, it is due to them that at the earliest possible moment I should unreservedly withdraw all imputations. I do not believe that a bribe has been accepted-by any member of tho House. My s statement is made without previous consultation with my party, and I am only guided by what is due, not only from one man to another, but from one member of this Houso to another,” (Applause.) The Hon T. Mackenzie, Minister of Agriculture, who continued the debate on the no-confidence motion, suggested that Mr Massey, should include not only Ministers in their capacitv as members, but. also as Ministers, in nis expression of opinion that they had not received bribes, beoause it was generally circulated, particularly in Auckland, that it was impossible to get business through the. Executive unless there was laid on or under the Minister’s table a five, ten, twenty or hundred-pound note. (Opposition dissent.) It was all very well in the House, faoe to faoe with one another and in the presenoe of the public, to ref off to these things, but these scandalous imputations wore made, and he regretted to say that they were believed by some people. “Wo may not be free from faults as a Government,” Mr Mackenzie added, “ but I have notsecn any men who have more strenuously tried to discover what is the right thing to do and then carry it out. I feel strongly that such things should he said (I do not • say by members of the Opposition), but such things are said.” COMMITTEE ON PRIVILEGE. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 26. The Committee on Privilege set up to deal with the breach of privilege elected Mr Hanan chairman. The proceedings of the committee are private. It is understood that it will examine several Auckland witnesses, including the -writer of the letter. \ The Privilege Committee will meet at 10.30 a.m. to-morrow, but its proceedings will have lost a great deal of interest since Mr Massey’s expression of contrition. It is understood that only one witness will bo called. [From Our Correspondent.] DUNEDIN, February 26. The “Star” protests strongly against Saturday’s decision of the Privilege Committee to exclude the Press and says that the protest will be endorsed by the bulk of the people quite irrespective of party predilections. Tho democracy, with due limitations, Is shaking aside tho crusted notions of precedent with their taint of antique irrelevance.