THE SIMPSON CASE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16318, 14 August 1913, Page 5

THE SIMPSON CASE.

TFIK PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY.

I HON F. M. B. FISHER’S EVIDENCE.

j STRONG REMARKS BY MR ; /ATMORE. I [Pep. Press Association.] j WELLINGTON, August 13. t The parliamentary inquiry into the

I appointment nf Air Simpson to tho 1 Westport Harbour Board by the MinisI ter of Marino was resumed.

Mr Fisher, examined by Mr Atmore, said that the opinion expressed by him in the House, that if the charges against Simpson were correct, he would not regard him as- a proper person to remain on the Board had been modified since he had heard the nature of the charges, lie now thought the appointment a proper one and would recommend the Government to introduce special legislation to remove him. He had made a general regarding Mr Simpson ■ while at Karainea, but ho did not think it- necessary to make inquiry from the police. That never had been done regarding appointees to Harbour Boards and never would bo done. If the appointment had to Ire made over again probably Mr Simpson would not be appointed, "but ho would nob take any steps to remove him. He admitted the validity of the convictions against Mr Simpson but- denied that ho knew anything about them at tho time of the appointment. To Mr Isitt: He thought it was the duty of the Minister to conserve tho high character of public appointments, but did not agree that convictions, irrespective of the circumstances, should hold a man down all his life. To Mr Colvin: Mr Simpson was recommended by tho Karamea Chamber of Commerce and had been elected to the Bailor County Council. Ho thought those circumstances good enough on which to appoint him and considered Karamea entitled to a representative- , , To Mr Statham: He heard no suggestion of charges against Air Simpson while at Karamea, and no protest had been received against the appointment from tho West Coast. The appointments made by him were necesearv. because the Board was tjc.d u* L > by * a deadlock. The steps taken by him were both justified and legal, an i had 1 never been questioned. To Mr Lee: The appointments were not made to allow Mr Munro. to become chairman. The Press comments in the district were favourable to the appointments, and ho did not think that Mr Atmore was justified in assuming that he knew of Mr Simpson s character until he had denied the faet. To Nil- Atmore: The Government nominees on the Board did not represent. the Ministry, but the State as a whole. He still thought that tho Government should not inquire into the character of its nominees. Mr Atmoro in evideiice said that he made the statements in the House because of the blatant assertions of the alleged Reform Party that they never made improper appointments. He held that all the men appointed to public positions should havo_ a clean record. Tho convictions against Mr Simpson established the fact that ho had not a clean record. Mr Fisher said that he first heard of Mr Simpson’s character from Motueka. Ho had not thought it necessary to infoim the Minister of his character, because he did not know that the same man had been appointed. So soon as he knew it was the same man he thought it was time to make a protest. To Mr Braducy: Ho now accepted the Minister’s statement that he did not know of tho convictions when he made tho appointment, but he should have known.

To Mr Statham: His object in moving tho charges was to show that the Reform Government had made an improper appointment. To tlie chairman: He still thought the appointment was to the eternal disgrace of tho Government, because it could have known tho character of the appointee. He did not value the opinion of any . person who. said that a person with seven convictions- was a fit and proper person to sit on a public Board. If he had known when he spoke in the House what he knew now lie would not have modified his speech. To Mr Myers: Ho relied on the publio sense of rectitude as exhibiting disgust at tho appointment of Mr Simpson. That disgust had been expressed to him by several people. Ho declined to give tho names of such persons. He was not aware that Mr Simpson complained of vindictiveness. He had made inquiries as to tho circumstances attending the convictions beforo he spqko in the House. The opinion of the people in the district did not affect liis opinion of Mr Simpson. The convictions would stand..

Tho committee then deliberated