MR. HAYES-FISHER M.P.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12272, 16 May 1903, Page 5 (Supplement)

MR. HAYES-FISHER M.P.

RESIGNATION OF HIS PO£T IN THE | MINISTRY. Mr. Hayes-Fisher, M.P., announced to ; the House of Commons a few-days ago his ! resignation of the post of Secretary tc the J Treasury. He entered the House and took ; his seat at the corner of the Front Bench j below the gangway—an indication that he | had resigned his place iu the Ministry. It j will be remembered that Mr. Hayes-Fisher I has been connect eel with the Telescriptor I Syndicate, about which there has been some J litigation of late. ! Mr. Hayes-Fisher, who spoke with emotion, rose to inform the House that he that day tendered his resignation of the office of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury. and as the matter affected his personal honour he hoped the House would allow him to make an explanation, although the matter was still sub judice. The lion, member read a written statement, in the course of which he said that no shares in the Telescriptor Syndicate had been issued to the public, and no prospectus issued, and that the whole difficulty had arisen through the vendor having pledged some shares to a banker, by whom they were sold. He had been a victim of a breach of the original agreement. He could not reproach himself with having acted unworthily or without business caution. It was true the business management of the syndicate had been left to Mi. Roger Wallace, but, in fact, there was no business to manage, all the money having been provided by Sir J. Lawrence", Mr. Wallace, and himself. He might, Lowever, say that he and his friends had agreed to re-purchase at par shares that were sold, although they were advised that they were under no legal obligation to do so." Although he was far from a rich man he would never have it said that anybody had lost a penny through him. On the previous day he banded over a cheque for £5000 to pay the holders in full. (Hear, hear.) He had wronged no man, but he had himself been cruelly wronged. He bowed to the terrific punishment that had fallen upon him. It might be asked why he resigned. Well, it was because he could no longer be a source of strength but of weakness to His Majesty's Government. Mr. Balfour said his hon. friend had behaved under most trying circumstances as a man of high integrity and high honour, which he had carried to such an extent as to move the admiration of the House. (Cheers.) He gladly bore testimony to the zeal and efficiency with which his hon. friend had carried out his duties in the House and outside of it. His hon. friend, with whom he. had been closely associated for many years, had not made a. personal enemy. Personally, no event had been more painful to him, and he could assure his hon. friend he was quite confident the course he had taken in connection with this unfortunate affair would augment the esteem in which he was held, and even increase, if that were possible, the affection and confidence felt in him. (Cheers.) Sir H. Campbell-Buiinerman said there would be a universal feeling of sympathy for the hon. member: that in a'difficult, delicate, and unfortunate situation the hon. member had done the right thing, and was deserving of their respect and regard. (Cheers.) Mr. Blake, on the part of the Irish members, said the hon. member had vindicated his reputation and increased his- honourable record in the House. (Cheers.) The matter then dropped