THE MARINE SCANDAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11524, 9 September 1899, Page 5

THE MARINE SCANDAL.

In the division on the marine scandal amendment the Government had only a majority of six. Both Messrs Montgomery and Tanner voted against the Government. Mr Millar did not speak, though he was attacked by Mr Pirani in connection with the evidence he gave before the commission. THE PREMIER BOWLED OUT. During the debate on the marine scandal Mr Seddon, replying to Mr Scobie Mackenzie, made a most daring distortion of the evidence, which was afterwards so completely exposed in one' sentence by the senior member for Duncdin that the House was as much amused as the Premier was disconcerted. *Mr Seddon quoted a question and answer on page 111 of the report (question 491) to prove that Captain Fairehild had a very high opinion of the qualification of Qaptain Jones. The question and answer are as follows:—"Had Captain Fairehild a very high opinion of his qualifications?" Answer: "Yes; Captain Fairchild had a. very high opinion of him; and I know that Captain Post, of the Tutanekai, has." Mr Scobie Mackenzie demolished the claim in one sentence. Ho said: "Sir, I have been accused by the Premier of misleading the Ho\ise to-night. 'I will leave the Houso to iudgo who is convicted of deception. Would the House believe that the question and answer just read by the Premier refers, not to Captain Jones at all, but to tho high qualification of Captain Yon Schoen as an adjuster -of compasses?" Members rapidly turned over the pages of the bulky document before them, and sure enough Mr Mackenzie was right. The Premier tried to flounder out of the exposure, but it was a sorry exhibition, and the only excuse for him is that he must have made a mistake and not misquoted deliberately. JOTTINGS. Mr James Allen is urging the Government to- establish a poultry farm in the Tokomairiro district. Mr R. Thompson, it has been observed, has followed the Premier more consistently this session than ■ has been his wont, and it is rumoured that he has an eve on the portfolio which his namesake, the Minister for Justice, is about to relinquish. ,' Tho widow of the late Captain Fairehild, who received a compassionate allowanco •of £675, is petitioning Parliament for: a further sum. . .•.',.• ■. .'. .