CHARGE OF BRIBERY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 51, 24 February 1912, Page 5

CHARGE OF BRIBERY.

THE CASE OF MR. PAYNE. DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. ENQUIRY TO BE HELD. “A POLITICAL FAKE.” (Per Press Association.) i Wellington, February 23. I During the no-contidence debate in the House this evening, Mr, 801 l explained, in connection with words used Oy him during the < lewm. that he had no intention of taxing the Premier in connection with tne loan ol improperly accepting money. Sir Joseph Ward acquitted Mr. Bell personally of the construction put upon his remarks, but said the main point was the impression which such remarks made upon the public mind. The question of the “Black pamphlet” here cropped up, and Sir Joseph Ward said he had never attributed it to the Opnosition, but declared it was promoted "by a supporter of the Opposition outside the House. Ninety-mnc-■mon out cf a hundred looked upon it as a blackguardly way of attacking a public man. Mr. Massey said Sir Joseph Ward was wrong if lie said it was an Oppositionist device. Sir J. G. Ward replied be was not wrong. There were men who had not quite as much information as he had, and if he saw fit to do so, he could put one or two men in gaol that day. Mr. Dickson then rose, and said he wished to make reference to a statement that an alleged inducement of £IOOO had been offered to a certain member. Mr. Payne had stated to him in Auckland that he was going to support the Opposition on a no-confi-dence motion. Later lie received information that Mr. Payne was going to break his pledge, and that bets were being made on that contingency. He put a question to Mr. Payne, in the presence of Mr. Massey, oil Friday last, that he (Mr. Payne) had been offered money to vote with the Government. Mr. Payne refused to say anything at first, but eventually said: “I have been offered it. I have been calUd into an office in Auckland.” Sir J. G. Ward: “You should say what office and who the people wore.” Mr. Dickson said he,would not do that. He would leave the matter to Mr. Payne. Mr. Payne: “Yon know!” Mr. Dickson: “I do not!” Mr. Payne: “You do. Say it now!” Mr. Dickson said iie was very pleased to understand that Mr. Payne would say wiio had acted this contemptible part of endeavouring to get a man to break his pledges for payment of £SOO. He did not wish to be understood that lie (Mr. Dickson) suggested that the offer had been made by any member of the Government party. He was ouite satisfied other members could make statements similar to those which he had just made. In his opinion, Mr. Payne was not the only man who had similar offers or inducements made to him. It was his duty as member for Grey Lynn to explain the' matter to the House. '• _ ' Sir J. G. Ward said it was the duty of every member anxious to maintain his own dignity and that of the House to make a clear statement on a matter like thisV » )i" i “ Mr' Massey said he jvas present when tlie■ statement was made.; The statement aVerl-ed that Mi 1 . ’ Payne had told l him ■he had been offered £SOO or £IOOO in la l merchant’s''office in .4ncklahd t'o break his election pledge. Mr. Payne, by way of personal explanation, said he was called into the ofSco of Maurice O’Connor by 'Ghnrles McAlMtefyHvhb'kaidT '‘Do you know, I have been authorised to give you anything between £SOO and £IOOO if you will go in the direction of the Ward Party?” He took no notice of his remarks. Mr. Payne proceeded to ■say-that he belifived Mr. McMastef was’now taking round a petition calling upon him to resign because he had gone back oil his election pledges. On the House resuming at 7.30, Sir Joseph Ward raised the point whether a breach of privilege iiad not been ■caused in placing an anonymous letter on the table. Mr. Massey explained. that he had been going into the whole of the cir'cumstances connected with the interview between himself and Mr. Payne, and had quoted those portions of the letter which ho had read to Mr. Payne. Sir Joseph Ward said the rumour or allegation was directed at Mr. Brown, member for Napier, and himself. Evidently the member for Parnell bad been put up to make an allegation. Mr. Massey took exception to this statement. •Sir Joseph Ward said he wanted to see tlie so as he could prosecute the man who wrote it. He asked Mr. Massey as a matter of fairness (o produce the letter. He asked the Speaker’s ruling on the point. The Speaker ruled that there was nothing in tlie letter which made any direct charge against Sir Joseph Ward cr Mr. Brown. In his opinion it was not a breach of privilege to lay the letter on the table. Mr. Payne said he wished to raise a question of breach of privilege on his own account, and asked that the original document be placed on tlie table.

The Speaker said it was for the House to decide if Mr. Payne considered anything read constituted a breach of privilege. Then the name cf the writer, the person who wrote the letter, could be ascertained. Mr. Brown then rose, and w shed to raise; a question of breach of privilege .in his own case, remarking that the statement that he had been c jncerrfd in a payment of £IOOO was absolutely untrue. Ho moved that a bream of privilege had been committed. Mr. Mgssey declared that Mr. Brown's name bad r.ot been iih;:i+'Orel.

Mr Payne said bo was g-it g to vote that a comm tree be set up to .eh,or him of the c'mrge Hi.u lie lad been “squared” r o? £100'.). 'I hr Speaker suggested that Mr. I’iiyne should uiovj: ‘That tie- pibheitt o i of the follo-v.ig •••xtiact» in the ht<-»r constitutes a L-reacn of priviilege.”

Mr Yeitch mcoided the notum. and said that whateve- ti e charge uas it should he proved up to the h I T . Toe .»p n ihil'ty for proving the chaige against a Labour member icstrd .\itli the gentleman who broiipbt me n niter forward. There might be a fear that the member who recorded his.vote on the Liberal side might be charged with something similar. Mr. Payne said be wanted the original letter laid on the table to enable him to prosecute the writer’. Mr. Browm said it was a cowardly thing to make such a staternnt as hail been made while he had no redress in law courts against the writer of the letter. The extract from tire letter stated: “ill - . Payne told me some days ago that Mr. Massey had said that he (Mr. Payne) had been squared by Mr. Brown for a thousand.” ill - . Han an said it w r as a curious thing that such u dastardly charge

had not been made until after the member lor Grey Lynn had spoken. There was nothing to show that tlie letter was not a rake. There was no signature, and all they had was an extract. Mr. Fisher hoped the member would have every opportunity afforded him of having a fair hearing. Mr. Robertson said lie was of opinion that tlie charge brought by the Opposition against Mr. Payne was designed to intimidate the Labour members who had not yet spoken. He could see a way to keep his election pledges and yet vote to keep the Liberals on tlie* Treasury Benches. Mr. Massey read the memoranda of an interview with Mr. Payne. Mr. Payne had told him at tlie interview in question that he thought he had intended to vote for the Government. Mr. Massey had replied that it would bo a disgrace to him and his constituents if lie did so. Nothing definite was settled. Mr. Payne said he would consider the matter and give a definite reply. He did not do so, and of course he (Mr Massey) did not run after him. Air. Dickson was present at tlie interview. He hoped a commitee would be set up, and it would be found he would do the right thing to the members of this House.”

Mr. Payne repeated, as a personal explanation, his transactions with Air Massey and the offer of McAlasters of a bribe. Mr. Millar asked if tlie offence had been committed, and the Leader of the Opposition knew of it a fortnight ago, why had he not made it public earl : er in the session? In his opinion, if Mr. Payne had voted for the Opposition, they would never have heard a word about the matter. Mr. Atmore urged tlie House to got on with tlie vote.

Sir Joseph Ward objected to the suppression of the discussion. Mr, McKenzie said the thanks of tlie House were due to Air. Veitch for giving a lead in tlie matter. There was a feeling of intimidation in connection with the Labour Party, and what Air. Veitch said would have a most salutary effect. Tlie result of tlie enquiry would be that an offer only had been made, and that no money had passed. Air. Forbes said the whole tiling ivas a political fake, and had been arranged with the object cf damaging the Government party.

FURTHER PROCEEDINGS. AVellington, February 24. After midnight in the House last night Air. Massey said lie was prepared to face the music. He had very little fault to find with the committee. If he had made a slip lie would take the punishment either before the committee or hand in his resignation and face his constituents. There wogld be no backsliding on his part. Sir Joseph AVard said the man who started the rumour was an infernal scoundrel. Ho would know who wrote the letter. He was entitled to the information.

Air. Brown asked for an enquiry into the charges made in tlie statement by Air. Alassey that he (Air, Brown) was instrumental in “squaring” Air. Payne at Napier. The Speaker said the House should follow the precedent of tlie enquiry in 1372, and refer the matter to a committee to report to the House.

Air. Fisher moved that the statement by Air. Payne tSat McAlasters had been'authorised' to give him £SOO to £IOOO to go iin the direction of the 'Ward Party was a-breach of privilege. ; 1 He held that the man who made the offer of money should be punished. '

The motion was carried on tin voices, and the House adjourned at 1.15 a.m. till ’7.30 p.m. on Alonday.