NOT PRIVILEGED.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8190, 3 August 1912, Page 1

NOT PRIVILEGED.

ATTACK ON AN M.P.

DECISION OF PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE.

The Committee of Privilege appointed ny tuo liOuse ox nepresentutives to impure into and report on me puuiicauuu ox a letter written by Wxinaui omciair to U uuaui Uarr on ararcn HOi.. mat, reiiectuig on tno cnaracter ox Mr it. Jicviailum, -M.r / . tor U auau, presented its report to tue ilouso yesterday axteruoon througn ns cixairmau, :ur J. nanan. TUe anamgs ox ttxe cumiuxtteo wexo;

(.i; That tuo letter was written by Waiiam cnnciair ana sent by nun to ana received uy William Uut. O'; mat a copy ox tnxs letter was signed uy Wiiuaiu Sinclair, and sent uy mm to and received by william ruiurow Vei ten, a memOer of I 1 a main cut, unaer cover of a letter addressed to William Andrew Veitch xnarKed “ private and connaentiai.” (5; That Vvxlliam anmw Veitch gave the copy of the letter referred to m paragrapn (a; and received by him to xticnam -UcCalium on or about July Orel, 1912. The committee stated its opinion that tho letter was published by William Sinclair, and was not a privileged communication. The committee further reported that a desire was expressed by William Sinclair to bo heard at the bar of the House before the breach of privilege was finally dealt with.

Mr Hanan’s motion that the report be laid upon the table was adopted without discussion.

Mr G. W. Kussell (Avon) asked the Pi ime Minister what he proposed to do in connection with the report. The Prime Minister said that the matter had been sprung upon him, for ho had not the slightest idea that the report, was coming down. He would like an opportunity of looking into the report and the evidence, after which he would be able to inform the House what was the proper course to take.