“IT IS HUMILIATION”

Northern Advocate, 7 November 1932, Page 2

“IT IS HUMILIATION”

M R .M ACI XT OSH ’S ST A XI). AVILL NOT ANSWER- QUESTIONS. TALKS O F (4 R UGI FI X lON. (Prom Our Parliamentary Special.) WF L LIX G T OX, Sa tu rd ay. The evidence given by Air Alexander Macintosh before the Privileges Committee of the House avus made public yesterday, when the report of the committee was laid before the House. Air Afaeintosli refused to reveal the nature of certain evidence and refused to answer any question relating to the source of the evidence upon AA'hich he had formed his conclusions, .is expressed in an addendum to the report of the National Expenditure Commission.

Asked by Air H. E. Holland, leader of the Labour Party, if lie attempted to get his addendum incorporated in the general report, Air Macintosh said he had not. He refused to give his interpretation of the term “making of inroads into the Treasury'” which he had used in liis addendum.

‘ ‘ Afy statement is there,’ ’ said Mr Macintosh, when pressed further by Air W. F. Barnard (Labour, Napier) “I stand by that statement absolutely. 1 do not knoAV what you are trying to get at. I am not going to interpret; it.”

“Surely, Mr Macintosh, yon can give ns some evidence as to what members of Parliament have done.”’ asked the .chairman of the committee, Mr G. S. Smith,

Mr Macintosh: “No, it Avonld be coming Aery near to something I , do not wish to say. I am sorry about all this. Nobody feds this more than 1 do. It amounts to this: I Avas sent there as a member of the commission to do a certain duty and I did that duty. Now 1 am called here and asked to take back what I have said, it is most, humiliating. 1 won’t be humiliated. There it is.” The chairman: “No member here wants to humiliate yon.” Air Alacintosh: “I say that is my view of it. It is humiliation. It is no use putting me on the rack' like this. What I have said I have said and 1 stick to it. I said it on most pronounced evidence. You can do what you like with me, but that is all I can sa v. ’ ’

The Prime .Minister explained that all the committee wanted was to do jnslb-c. 'That was not unreasonable, and iin man should feel humiliated. Mr .Macintosh; “Well, I do. I Avas sent (here to do a certain duty according to my conscience. Have I done wrong in doing that?”

Air Forbes: “I have expressed our indebtedness to members of the commission and thanked them.”

Mr Alacintosh: “A'ou won’t get me at that task again—never, under any consideration.” Air Forbes: “It was a very difficult one. ’ ’ Air ’Macintosh: “1 actually damaged my eyesight over it. I Avas continuously looking into mat tins there for Tiao solid months, and this is what I get — to be held here and crucified in this Avay. ’ ’ The chairman: “A’ou must not say that.” Air .Macintosh: “Well I do say that, and I do feel that, too, and beingheld (o ridicule in the House. It is a disgraceful thing, 1 think', to have this reward for doing my duty.’’ When lold by I lie chairman that he could not eoiilimie in that stiain Mr Macintosh said lie was very sorry there should be slleli fuss about it, blit lie had his own sell' respect In consider.