The Slander of Mr. Tregear

Maoriland Worker, Volume 4, Issue 146, 19 November 1913, Page 8

The Slander of Mr. Tregear

On Wednesday the following question, with the answer appended, precipitated a short but heated discussion in Parliament which cannot be passed by without a word of comment. The question was put by Mr. Okey (Ta-ra* naki), end was to this effect:— 7. Mr. Okey (Taranaki) to ask the Government—(l) Whether their attention has been drawn to a. statement said to have been made by Mr. E. Tregear at the woman's meeting held on Wednesday, the sth instant, referring to the farmers and their sons vho have como to this town for the puipose of asssitiug in the shipment of their produce, as the "Outcast scum of the country, brought down to bludgeon citizens into submission to the Government"? (2) Whether this is E, Trege'ar, J. P., on whom the Imperial Service Order hai been conferred; and, if the facts are as al'eged, will the Government tak? the necessary steps to bring his action Lefore the representative of His Majesty in the DominionP Reply: The Hon. Mr. Massey (Prime Minister) rep Kid, Mr. Tregear denies the accuracy of the report of his speech as it appeared in the newspapers, but the Government is still in communication with him on the subject. It is not necessary, nor would) it be dignified, to enter here into the pros and cons of the discussion or to recount the words which passed in the House of Representatives. That body does not shine for its magnanimity, and it is not above settling some of its old scores by petty means. It is a most lamentable state of affairs, however ,to see men, who think of themselves as gentlemen and bear the title of "honorable," descend to such low party tricks as to seek to deprive an honorable man, grown old in the service of hw country, and even yet active on behalf of his fellow men, of his good name. Had Mr. Nosworthy, who found great relish in calling Mr. Tregear a 'sknilnp," done one quarter as much for his country as has the man he seeks to defame, he might at least be entitled to a calm expression of criticism on that man's Utterances. But he has not, and neither has any man who sits in the House. At all events, Mr. Tregear need not be disquieted over the affair. His name is solid enough to withstand the impact of a few petti lent hornets.