THE CHATEAU FRACAS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22709, 23 October 1935, Page 10

THE CHATEAU FRACAS

REFERENCE IN PARLIAMENT AN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION (From Our Parliamentary Reporteb)WELLINGTON, October 22. The recent affray at The Chateau, when Mr R. Cobbe was seriously injured, was the subject of an official explanation by the Prime Minister, Mr G. W. Forbes, in the House of Representatives to-day. The Prime Minister said that in view of the fact that reference had been made in the House to the incident he desired to make a statement setting out the facts as they were at present known. "At about 1 a.m. on September 8," Mr Forbes continued, "Mr Cobbe and a guest at The Chateau who had come from the Hawke's Bay district had an altercation which resulted in an exchange of blows. There were no witnesses of the incident. The only available statements, which are those of the participants, are so conflicting as to render it impossible at this stage to form a judg ment in connection with the happening. I understand that Mr Cobbe contemplates taking civil proceedings against the other party. So far as criminal proceedings are concerned, Mr Cobbe, up to the present, lias not made any complaint or laid any information that would justify the police in commencing a prosecution. In the absence of such complaint or information there is no available material that warrants action by the police.— (Labour laughter.) "A mischievous rumour has been circulated to the effect that a certain gentleman occupying a high position in Wellington was involved in the fracas. All the evidence, including the admission of Mr Cobbe himself, shows that the gentleman in question did no more than attempt to separate the contestants and restore peace and order. In view of the proceedings by Mr Cobbe against the other party it would be unfair to both were I at this stage, and before the matter is brought out in evidence before a magistrate, to go into further details, as these no doubt will be fully and publicly elucidated in open court." When the Prime Minister had completed his statement there was a volley of Labour interjections generally with reference to the remark that there were no witnesses of the incident. Mr M'Keen said that in view of the efforts of someone to separate the contestants the statement was inconsistent. There must have been witnesses. The Prime Minister: I shall be very pleased to allow the Leader of the Opposition to view the police file as far as it goes at present.