THE J. G. WARD COMPANY TELEGRAMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2170, 26 September 1895, Page 21

THE J. G. WARD COMPANY TELEGRAMS.

The Poat of this eveuing snya:— " Perhaps the most serious imputation ever formally levelled againnt a Minister of the Cr.wn in New Zealand h that contained in Mr Karn•h&vr'o question, which bus now b*eu far nearly a wetk upon the Order P»per of the House of Representatives. It is iv these teims :— •' Mr Earmhaw to ask the Postal »ftter-gen«ral if he will lay before this House tho instructions issued by the Telegraph department to its offict-rs re the forwarding of telegrams to and from the Hon. Mr Ward mid his firm in Invercargill; or if the following inntrucMou has been issued to officer* of the Telegraph dep>rbmeut:—"All tele-grams, whether urgent, ordinary, or delayed, to and from the Hon. Mr Ward and hi* firm at limroargill are to be given prcc*drT>c* and transmitted aooordingly. W. Gkay. 28/4/93." ' We have nbstwiued from making special reference to this matter in the hope, a vain one, that tie Poet-m»ster-geueral would seize an early opportunity of compelling Mr Evrmbaw to ask bis question bo as to enable him to reply to it. As we have said, no more serious imputation on the honour of a Minister h«6 ever been put forth in New Zealand. How any man of even normal sensitiveness could rest content for nearly a week nuder such an impuUtion we can scarcely im'gino. The matter should really be treated as one of privilege, it so nearly concerns a member of the House. We do not at the present stage exprets any opinion as to whether Mr Ward has or has not, as IB imputed to him in the question, us^d bis official position to promote the private business interests of the business firm of which he is the managing director. Notwithstanding the apparently precise information on which the question is based, there may be nothing in the mailer. We sincerely hope there is nothing. But the accusation having been formulated, it should not be allowed to remain unanswered for an hour longer than is necessary to clear up the matter. The honour of the House, as well as that of tho Minister, is at stake. The Otigo Daily Times is of opinion that if Mr Ward has done what is imputed to him he should no lrtiger remain Postmastur - general. We go further, and say he chould not longer remain a member of the Parliament of New Zealand." A COMPLETE ANSWER EXPECTED. I think it will be found when the time comes that th« Treasurer will have a complete and explicit answer to the question of Mr Earnshaw M to undue preference of telegrams concerning the business of the J. G. Ward Company. FERNHILL RAILWAY. The Femhill Railway Purchase Bill provides for the purchase of the Fernhill railway at a price not exceeding £1150, to be paid out of the public works fund.