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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5610, 22 March 1879, Page 2

The creme cle la oreme of Victorian Liberalism is the Reform and Protection League. It is a kind of political ring, possessing great power, it chooses “Liberal” candidates for every constituency in the Colony, it is the medium of Government promises and Government threats. Mr. Beery is its president, his colleagues its managers, and in fact it is in all respects a most excellent association for promoting Government interests. If the Government wants to feel the public pulse, the Reform League passes resolutions in accordance with Ministerial ideas; if the Government wishes to hark back upon any particular question, a formal requisition is brought up from the Reform League, and beneath the cover of this a judicious retreat is beat. Some of the most scandalous acts of public and political impropriety have been openly committed by this peculiar organisation, and it, has long been suspected that personal corruption has been the bond which held its members together; but until within the last month nothing in the shape of proof has been ascertainable. However, the murder is out at last. The hon. secretary of the League is a Mr. Yeomans. This gentleman is a hatter by business, but has most distinguished himself by his stump oratory, and the facility with which he' frequently passes through the Insolvency Court. This latter accomplishment has acted as a bar to his getting a seat in Parliament with £3OO a year, but it seems his position as secretary to the Reform League has brought him in perquisites, and his corruption has just been thoroughly exposed. It appears he has been in the habit of taking bribes from persons who wished appointments under the Government, and trusted to his influence for the procuring of such ; but being unsuccessful in one instance, a fuss has ensued. In this case he agreed to get a person appointed as a J.P. in consideration of a payment to himself of £IOO, but failed. A quarrel ensued, when the matter was inquired into, and the following evidence as to the transaction was given by one of Yeoman’s “ buzzum friends”:— “Yeomans has on several occasions told me that Geeschel was anxious to be made a J.P. If he could get it done he would receive £IOO for it. That he had recommended Geeschel to be made a J.P. 12th July, at Yeomans’ request, I wrote Geeschel, asking him to call, as Yeomans wished to see him on a matter of vital importance. 13th July, Geeschel came to Yeomans’ shop.' They went into a small office. Shortly one of them handed me a cheque for £4O. I was requested to get it cashed. Did so at National Bank of Australasia. Geeschel expressed his surprise at Yeomans handing the cheque to me. Yeomans said he trusted me with all the Government secrets, and there was no fear. Received £2 IGs. in addition to the £4O, and paid £42 16s. into the Australian and European Bank to retire an acceptance due by Yeomans. After this Yeomans said Geeschel was a liberal fellow, and had offered him the whole £IOO, but he refused —he could get the rest when the appointment was made. After this I frequently saw Geeschel, and he seemed to have implicit faith in Yeomans being able to do as ho liked with the Government. Yeomans used every effort that he could . think of to get the appointment made. The “Gazette” in the newspapers was searched on the Saturdays for the J.P. appointments, and language of the most objectionable and offensive nature was hurled at the Ministry because they did not make the appointment. At Yeomans’ dictation I wrote Mr. Beeey, urging the appointment, stating that Geeschel had been a successful merchant, conducting his business transactions in an honorable manner; that he (Yeomans) had made a searching inquiry, and could not discover any thing, against him; also urging that he was a strong supporter of the Government and the Liberal cause, and ready, when applied to, to assist the League, &c. I have been requested by Yeomans to look for Geeschel, and say that Yeomans wished to see him to get cash from him. On one occasion Geeschel promised to call as he went up the street, but he did not do so. - Got into a cab near Stutt’s Hotel. In Collins-street I asked Geeschel to let Yeomans have more of the cash, as he was hard up. Geeschel replied that as soon as the thing wasdonelie wonlddo so, buthewould not give any more just now. Yeomans has also tried him, but without success. I have been asked by. Yeomans, in Gbeschel’s presence, my opinion upon the appointment being made. Geeschel appeared to lose faith in Yeomans’ influence with the Ministry. Yeomans on one occasion told me he had been requested to see Mr. Muneo on the subject. Yeomans said he would see him - first, as he

had done as much’ for the Government as Mdneo ever did. In November “Yeomans said to me, ‘ I don’t think the Government are going to make Geeschel a J.P., and he thought he would pitch him overboard.’ I replied, ‘ln that case you are in honor bound to return the £4O to Geeschel.’ Yeomans did not make any reply.” The £4O was not returned; hence the trouble. Such being the doings of the inner circle of Victorian Liberalism, stories of political doings which reach us from lime to time need create no surprise.