HOW HE KNEW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14508, 24 October 1910, Page 8

HOW HE KNEW.

A>i M.P.'S INFORMATION. [CT TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. Wer.TJNV.TON. Saturday. " Who lias given you (he information at your disposal?" was a question which the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) asked Mr. Jas. Allen (Bruce) when the Defence Estimates were before the House of Representatives last evening. "Do you .really want to know?" queried Mr. Allen. ' " "Yes," replied Sir Joseph Ward. Mr. Allen: The daily newspapers. (Laughter.) Sir Joseph Ward: I think I know enough of the work of the department to know more than that. Have any officers imparted confidential information to you ? Mr. Allen: No. I told you that hefore. Sir Joseph Ward : Yes, you did. Mr. Allen: We get to know all sorts of things. (Laughter.) Sir Joseph Ward: We ought to know who some of them are. This dialogue brought Mr. T. E. Taylor (Christchurch North) to his feet. "I would take information from any public servant," he remarked, " and I would keep i(, confidential." He. added that he thought that all members were entitled to as much information in regard to the public departments as the Ministers. The Prime 'Minister said that in his opinion the first duty of a public official, irrespective of his politics, was to be loyal to the Government, of the day. Mr. Allen: Are you referring to me? Sir Joseph Ward: Oil, 110; but I want you to tell me how you know these things. Mr. Allen: Well, 1 have fold you. (Laughter.) Sir Joseph Ward : You are not as frank as you ought to be. Mr. Allen : I know another person who is not so i'rank as he ought to be. [Sir Joseph Ward: I wonder who he is.