POSITION STATED IN THE HOUSE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 262, 5 November 1912, Page 3

POSITION STATED IN THE HOUSE.

Just before the House of Representatives adjourned on Saturday afternoon, (reports The Dominion) Mr.(*. W. Russell directed the attention of the Prime Minister to the report of an Invercargill interview with the Hon. R. McNab, from which it appeared that Mr McNab intended to cease editing the New Zealand1 historical records on account of allegations which had been made in the House. Mr Russell said that it would be a very regrettable thing if Mr McNab discontinued his noble and patriotic work, and .asked the-Prime Minister what action he intended to take. Mr Massey said that he appreciated —and no one more than he did—the work that had been, and was being, done by Mr McNab. So far as clearing up the. implication made by one of the Members earlier in the session (that Mr McNab had been paid for his work) was concerned, everything that it was possible to do had been done. The matter had been discussed at length, Ministers had expressed their opinions, and a return had been laid on the table showing that Mr McNab had not received a single copper for the valuable work which he had done for New Zealand in connection with historical research. If there was anything more that he could do, the Prime Minister stated in conclusion, he would bo only too glad to do it. His impression from reading the published interview with Mr McNab was that the latter was not fully informed as to what had been said in Parliament.

The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher said that he had written to Mr NoNab informing him that Cabinet had granted the sum required for the publication of his book ana expressing regret that an inaccurate statement had been made by one Member of the House. He had forwarded to Mr McNab a copy of the Hansard (report of the discussion in the House on the subject of his work and a. copy of thVreturri mentioned by the Prime Minister. It seemed to him that everything possible had been done.

In a concluding reference to the subject, Mr Russell said that in his opinion if the Prime Minister, with the mark and prestige of his position, approached Mr McNab, the latter could be induced to continue hisi work of historical research.