CANARD EXPLODED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3097, 23 July 1913, Page 73

CANARD EXPLODED.

COM M ISS LON EU AN D OFFI ( 1.1 ' WELLINGTON. July 18. The statement made by -Hi jian.m last night that he had heard that one of the Civil Service Commissioners hud thrown a hie of papers at tne head or in tlie tace ol the head of one of the Government departments was referred to by the i'rime Minister this afternoon. The commissioner mentioned, said Mr Massey, was Mr Triggs, and the head of the department rereired to was Mr G. 1-. C. Campbell (Secretary to the Treasury). He read a letter sent by Mr Campbell to the .Minister ot Finance (the lion. J. Allen), in which he absolutely denied that the commissioner had ever behaved towards him in the manner staled or in any ungentleinanly manner. He had had to meet the commissioner on many occasions, and the relations between them were of the most cordial nature. Mr Massey said he hoped that this would be a warning to gentlemen on the other side of the House not to repeat such ridiculous statements, which did no good from a party point ol view and which caused annoyance to people whose names happened to be mentioned. Mr Hunan said that his statement had been put in the form of a question. *‘ I asked,” he said, *“ if it was true, and the Prime Minister replied ‘‘No.’ 1 then said that 1 was very glad to hear it. I heard tlie statement from several reliable people.” The Hon. Mr Fraser; Reliable people! They are not very reliable ! A Member : 'They wore pulling your 3.£TT. Mr Hainan : I am, as I said before, veryglad that statement was not true.