THE COLONIAL BANK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13421, 23 October 1905, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE COLONIAL BANK.

SENSATIONAL SPEECH BY SIR J. (I

WARD. ALLEGED ATTEMPTED BLACK-

MAILING.

(Fhom Our Own C'oHP.EsroNnr.sT.)

WELLINGTON, October 19. During iho discission oi: tho Criminal Codo Amendment Bill in tho House lliif afternoon Mr Taylor said the measure was fraught with the gravest danger to fhe community. He added that it might b'c very well termed u Meikle, Braund, Tay. lor, or Massoy Suppression Bill, or a bili to suppress any man who dared to say a word against tile Government administration. Mr Taylor spoke strongly against tho hill, and made reference to Ihe Colonial Bank liquidation a nd the fact that the books of flic hank were to be burnt in a couple of weeks.

At. a later stage of the debate Sir Joseph Ward aroso and made a- sensational speech, reminiscent of the one ho delivered on tho same subject in 1E96. Speaking under tho influence of strong feeling, ho proceeded to deliver a spcecli of extraordinary passion. He had, ho said, hoped that he would not on this occasion have had to refer to the Colonial Bank, "but," h« proceeded, "let me toll Mr Taylor that j snap my fingers at him or at any ot)ie> person who is working wifh him." tf ic were publicly defamed ho thought, lie should have the right- to institute a criminal prosecution against any scoundrel or blackguard who "

Mr Massoy rose to a point of order, and asked whether such languago was parliamentary.

Tlie Speaker was understood to rule thai tho reference was in order.

Sir J. G, Ward: "If Mr Massey will not allow mo to protect myself against any scoundrel or blackguard I am very much surprised at him." Ho went on to refer to Mr Taylor's action in taking the chair at a certain meeting recently, a meeting at which, according to the speaker, no other man in Wellington would preside, nnd also to a man who attempted to blackmail him (tho speaker), hut whoso foul and dirty imputations he held in contempt, He held in his possession, lie said, a letter bearing the signature of a, creature who had been employed for nine years to damage him—a blackguardly coward, who had been trying to stab liiin in tho back. 110 snajiped his fingers at him. Would Mr TayloiJ believe that lie (the Minister) had had every word of that man's speeches taken with the intention of instituting a criminal prosecution, but that he had found he could not institute such a prosecution. After fmth"!' references to "this miserable, contemptible, crawling creature " he declared that he had never tried to stop the production of the Colonial Bank books, and had never attempted tn prevent an investigation of the Colonial Bank's affairs. What did the chairman of Mr • —'s meeting think of that? Mr Taylor: Ila I Ha! Kir ,T. G. Ward: "Give me a chance to take action, and I will put on record facts that will not ho very pleasant, to my enemies. It they think I am afraid of them they are very wide of the mark. Who," ho asked, "was the man who had been unfairly treated! I," ho said, "am that mail—the only man connected with the whole of the financial transactions whose ptiblio and private records were in the hands of my enemies, who used them through the Supreme Court in Duncdin." Sir Joseph, who was addressing tho House at great speed with a regular torrent of words, went 011 to say that Mr Taylor had acted as tho tool of a certain man (whom he named), hut his flow of cloquenco was interrupted by Mr Taylor, who rose to a point of order. He explained that- ho had never had any previous communication with the gentle-, man referred to. The Minister, ho said; was most ungenerous in this reference, and ho asked that the word.-! be withdrawn. The Speaker said the words must he withdrawn.

Sir Joseph Ward agreed to withdraw Hicni.

Mr Taylor: I don't mind discussing the Colonial Rank with you but don't say that I am the tool of anyone. Sir Joseph Ward: ,t accept the explanation of the lion, gentleman, and withdraw the expression. He said lie had boon treated in a cowardly manner, and tlio most villainous lies that, had over como out of the mouth of man had been used against him. He referred to a man who had boon endeavouring to got him to buy his in connection with the Colonial Bank affair, but he (Sir Joseph) had refused to do so. It had been stated that while he was Colonial Treasurer the colony had lent, the Colonial Bank £150,000. A viler lie and a. greater libel had never fallen from the lips of man. The Hpcakcr hero interposed. He said such words were never permitted in Parliament, no matter how used.

Sir Joseph Ward withdrew the words, and said that a fouler slander had never been utlered. Dnring the whole time he had* been Treasurer the Colonial Bank line! never l.orrowod one shilling from the colony. Let those who believed that say it so that ho could pioseente them, anil lie would undertake to do so at once. In this country at. the present time no man or woman was safe from any person or persons who tnfcht choose to say foul tilings or utter tlio greatest slanders upon ii person's etinrnctor, Tho only thing you could do at the present time was to bring a ejvil action against them, and if you won vow would have the pleasure of paying their expenses, nnd they would get off scot free. Sir Joseph quoted figures with a view of showinir that ihe business he was associated with could have paid its way without any difficulty. Tn connection Willi the liquidation, be 'had to keen his solicitors, at his own expense, at different points to protect him from tho. possible slanders of certain people. He bad been blamed for the tola I amount of the bad debts and for fht/ bad accounts of otli«*r peoplc-(" Hear, hear."),-but ho would toll some ot those busy-bodies who bad been trying to got at him that there were over £100,000 of losses in connection with the Colonial Rank, not one penny of which was connected with any business lie had to ( 'o witn. Hp did not mind anything in roniioction with the liquidation being said from tho housetops, but when others were using another man to make slanderous statements against him. lie said he had a right to redress. No man's family even was safe from such* people. He had been asked to pay £50 to stop this man. but he had snapped bis fingers at shim. He had told this man to do his worst, but ho would not pay a £1 note to ston him. If he could get at him under the criminal iflu ho would nt him as'sure as his' name was Joseph Ward. 11 0 would do it if tnfi law put him in a positiori' to do so. bir Joseph concluded amidst a round of annlanso_ from the Government benches. At 550 (the dinner adjournment) Mr Taylor left his seat, and erosscd tho floor °/.. e House, apparently to explain something, but Sir Joseph did not pay much attention to him. t Members crowded around, aiid for a time there was an animated scene._ Tho extraordinary specch was the subject of general conversation during the evening, and various opinions wore expressed regarding it.

- SIR JOSEPH WARD AND MR BRAUND. WELLINGTON, October 20. A letter from Mr V, iW. Braund in rcrily to the remarks made in the Hou?e yesterday by Sir Josoph Ward rcjtardin? tho Colonial Bank appears in tho Post to-niijht. Mr .Br.tund writes: "The statement in tile first instance that I referred to anj members of

Sir Joseph Ward's family at either of my three public meetings is absolutely without foundation, as everyone of tho 1300 people present at those meetings could testify. Secondly, I lmvo written no lotter to Sir Joreph Ward other than the letter a copy of which I enclose, mid which was sent with the approval of my solicitor., The public will correctly judgo "my action notwithstanding tho violent tactics of ono who daro not proceed against mo in any court of law, and daro not, moreover, repeat his charges on a public platform, preferring to cover himself with parliamentary privilege'.". The letter to Sir Josoph Ward to which Mr Brauiul refers is also published by the Poit, It is as follows: — Sir, —I have made arrangements for tho oarly publication of a work (baling with tho affajrs 'of the Colonial Bank, tho Ward Farmers', Association, tho Octan Beach Freezing Company, Nelson Broi (Limited), and othor concerns with which you wero moro or less connected. I-desire to bo perfectly frank and. fair, and to afford you an opportunity of perusing tho book and of correcting any statements contained therein which you may bo ablo to provo aro inaccurate. In llio compilation of the narrative I have endeavoured to be strictly accurate and just, and to confine myself to legitimate comment. In this I believe I havo beon successful. I am now engaged completing the revision of the work, and bringing it up to date by the inclusion of a final chapter dealing with the various phases of iho Colonial Bank liquidation up to and since the passing of the Companion Act of 1901, and with tlic attitude of the (Joveriimcnt, Parliamont, mid the official liquidator* (including tho Official Assignee, Uunedin) towards tho shareholders of the bunk; particularly the last phaso as to tho destruction of tho books and papers after the expiry of nix months from the date of tho dissoitilion order. In view of my correspondence with the official assignee (which is all sot. out in my book), I am very indignant at that f>overmnont official's omission to give notice of his intention to move for an order dirpolving the bank. If you desire to avail yourfelf of mv nficr to afford you an opportunity of reading, and may be correcting, my work, you may see it, or your duly authorised agent may sec it, by appointment at my offide as above at. any lime before Thursday, Bth prux., on one condition only—that voir" first rgrce in writing not to take anv legal proceedings before tho work is publislied which might have the effect of delaying its publication. After publication von would, of :oursc, bo free to take any proceedings you might think advisable. I fee! that the time i« ripe for the circulation of the history which I have compiled, and which I hope will have liie effect of arnn»ing' public attention to the present serious state of things.