THE ALLEGED BRIBE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14927, 27 February 1912, Page 7

THE ALLEGED BRIBE.

life. MAS SEY EXPRESSES lW*\ REGRET. I RATIONS WITHDRAWN L M ASSEY EXPRESSES •r\ REGRET. I A FULL RETRACTION. , % CORRUPT INFLUENCES. —<MUPH.—SrKCIAI. LORIVTSI'ONTOXT.] ; ( „flllGßAr Wellington, Monday. g « the House of Representatives met 1 .nint? Mr. Massey rose in Ins place , this ■ ! lsd S ai- I cra-o the indulgence of the ■ flito'make a statement. On Friday Sg, in giving a " account a conver..„between the member for Grey Lynn ' Myself. at the request of the former. 1 jVedan extract from a letter that I I' 1 read to the member mentioned. In I Lit so, I committed a grave error. The ; 2of'tho extract suggested that a mem- ' L 0 this House was subjected to cor- | **, influences. Some of my own words | 'It have been capable of the same conII Jriction. though 1 did not so intend them. I 9. some honourable members the words I lei Kith reference to the Prime Minis,„and the member for Napier appeared to wye been understood as suggesting that |. .1, members 1 have mentioned employed l mi improper influence. I feel it my 'I My to the House, to the Prime Minister. 1 1 the member for Napier, and the memLrforCey Lynn, to express my regret, j ot only for reading the e.xtrac, but for the words I myself rued, and. further, it jjchie to them that I should at the earliest iwssible moment unreservedly withdraw | lu'impotations against those lion, members. I Ido not believe that a bribe has been accepted by any member of the House, or j I that any member of the House has offered Mother's bribe. My statement is made without previous consultation with my party, and I have only been guided by my qm'ol what is due by one man to another, and by a member of this House to the. House. Xi Mr. Mass*)* resumed his seat he was greeted with a round of applause, in which niny members on the Government side of the House heartily joined. Such a frank, manly, and altogether unreserved statement* could scarcely have failed to make the excellent impression it did. The Hon. T. Mackenzie (Minister for Agriculture), rising to continue the noconfidence debate, said he was sorry the lion, member who had just spoken had not included in his statement Ministers, wis such, as well as members of the House, in their capacity as members, and had not declared his belief that Ministers had not received bribes. ,- Because/* continued the Minister, "it is generally circulated in- Auckland and in the Auckland provincial district, that it is impossible to get business through the Executive of this country unless you leave a £5 note, or a £10 note, or a £100 note on a Minister's table, or under it. (Oh, ob, and dissent.) It b all very well to disclaim such things in this House, but these scandalous insinulions are being made, and I regret to say that they are believed by some people. TheGovernment may not be free from faults ] 10 Government, and no individual, ever ! vas free from faults— I have never safe it a table with men who -were more earnest 0 find oub the right thing to do, and more ' letermined to carry it out. And then to flunk that such things should be said. 1 don't say they emanate from the Opposii ;ion, but they are said," ' TEE PRIVILEGE COMMITTEE. S TO BE OPEN TO THE PRESS. Another meeting of the Privilege Comnittee was held this afternoon. The chairnan (Mr. J. Hanan) stated this evening hat the committee had decided that countel should be allowed to conduct the cases if the various parties during the inquiry, tndthat representatives of the press should ie admitted during the taking of evidence, hit not while the committee is deliberating. The first sitting of the committee to hear evidence, will be held at 10.30 to-morrow Homing. Mr. Massey'e withdrawal of all imputations against members regarding bribery toes not necessarily make any difference to the work of the Committee of Privilege. The committee can be relieved of its duties mly by fresh instructions from the House. Farther, there is Mr. Payne's allegations ihat he was offered a bribe. This is quit© independent of the other matters before the committee. It is quite likely that the proceeding* will be of rather a stormy character. Application will bo made to the House for leave for the committee to sit during the afternoon sitting of the House. An extension of time must also be asked for. Having been constituted by the House, the committee will not be affected by any change in the Ministry which may occur.