ELECTION STATEMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18224, 18 October 1922, Page 10

ELECTION STATEMENTS

GIFT OF GUNS RECALLED.

CANDIDATE'S ALLEGATIONS.

FULL INQUIRY TO BE MADE.

[BT TELEGRAPH. —SrECIAL RErORTEB.]

WELLINGTON. Tuesday.

In the Housie of Representatives this afternoon statements made by Colonel T. W. McDonald, at an election meeting here, were thfi subject of comments and explanations by the Minister for Defence, Sir R. Heaton Rhodea. Colonel McDonald bad been reported by the local press as follows: "Ho declared that there was a reputedly wealthy man in New Zealand who was reported to own some thousands of acres of freehold land, as well as being a leaseholder, and whoso wife was at the time the lessee of about 130,000 acres of Crown land. This man had been given a valuable collection of exhibition stores, which the State freighted by rail And sea, free of char ge, to the donee's homo. Further, a nu'iiber of publio servants were given free first-class rail warrants to the donee's homo, in conneotion with this gift of stores, and other publio Servants devoted their time, as well as the use of horses and transport, for this purpose, and at the public expense. The donee was at the time himself in receipt of a high salary from the State and controlled the men, transport, and expenditure. He challenged the Government to refute the charge or explain it." After reading the report to the House, the Minister stated that he had received from headquarters a report relating to the only incident that Colonel McDonald could have had in mind. The report read as follows: "In December, 1918, two obsolete heavy guns, one 7in., and erne 64-pounder, R.M.L., at B'unedin, were offered to various publio bodies, which refused them. Colonel Nichols arranged with General Robin for the 64pounder to. be handed over to him and this gun was subsequently presented to and accepted by the Oamaru Borough Council. Tha 7in. gun was transferr«d to Colonel Nichols' private residence. A number of obsolete rifles were also presented to Colonel Nidhols by General Robin. In Octcibon, 1920. Colonel McDonald who was then officer commanding the Otago district, reported to ■genier-aill headquarters that certain ex- j penses incun«d in the removal of these puna had beun borne by the publio, and j that Colonel Nichols should be calledj upon to pay them. " Colonel Nichols paid various charges, but refused to pay several items, totalling £15, 3s lOd. This matter was referred to the Crown Solicitor, who stated that the money was not recoverable at law, and recommended that no action be taken." "Colonel McDonald," said the Minister. " asked for an explanation —that is the explanation." The chairman ©fi the Defence Committee, Mr. W. S Glenn, suggested that the charges made by Colonel McDonald should be deferred to that committee for investigation. The committee, lw> observed, was thoroughly representative of all parties in the House. Mr. Speaker stated that it was tiotj necessary for the .House to refer th> matter to the committee by motion. The Minister: Then I shall make it my business to refer it to the Defence Committee for inquiry. The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. H. E. Holland, suggested that at the same time an allegation made by Colonel McDonald, about missing stores should also be referred to the committee. The Minister said the candidate was not reported as having referred to defence stores. Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon: Are you going to call Colonel McDonald? Mr. Mm?sey: Most certainly, and any other witnesses who have any evidence to offer. Wis desire tb* inquiry. I know perfectly well what will happen. At election times one hardly knows whether to take these things seriously or not. Many peonle are in the habit of making exacgeratiid statements and the public understand that. All the same, l am quite agreeable to having an inquiry held.