PRIVILEGE COMMITTEE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 55, 29 February 1912, Page 5

PRIVILEGE COMMITTEE.

CONCLUSION OF THE TAKING OF EVIDENCE. THE OFFER ONLY A JOKE. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, February 28. Charles McMasters was then sworn, and examined iby Mr. Young. Witness was a wine merchant. He opposed Mi Fowlds’ candidature. He denied being intoxicated on the occasion of the alleged offer. He detailed the circumstances leading up to the meeting with Mr. Payne. W itness introduced the latter to Mr. O’Connor. iSubequently lie saw Mr. Payne at the Thistle Hotel, and asked him if it were true he was going to break his pledge. Witness asked Mr. Payne to go along to the Auckland Club to meet Mr. Massey. Mr. Payne did so. Witness asked Mr. Payne in the presence of Mr. Massey if he intended keeping Ids pledge and vote against Sir J. G. Ward. His reply was “Yes.” Witness said to Mr. Payne by way of a joke that he could get £SOO if lie could handle him. Mr. Payne took it as a joke. Witness mentioned no party. He denied Mr. Payne’s statement that witness said lie had been authorised to make an -offer. He had not been so authorised. To Mr. Myers: He was working for Mr. Payne at the election in the interests of Lis trade. To Mr. Skerrett: After the election lie was not opposed to Sir Joseph j Ward. His reason for asking Mr.l Payne if lie intended to break his pledge was that he had been told by many people that Mr. Payne would “rat.” He opened the conversation with Mr. Payne by saying he could get £SOO or £IOOO if witness could handle him. Asked where the humour was in the statement, witness said it was a. joke pure and .simple. He was under the impression when he spoke I to Mr. Payne that there would bo a dissolution, and he desired to secure tiio Grey Lynn seat against Mr.: Fowlds. Ho d.d not own property at j Richmond. His wife owned property there.

Mr. Millar: Where did you expect to get £6OO if Mr. Payne broke Jiis pledge? Witness; 1 rom no source whatever.

To Mr. Russell: Ft was suggested by Mr. Payne’s committee that witness should* bring pressure to boar on tiie former in oracr tliat he should keep his pledge. to Mr, Reed: When- lie approached Mr. Payne witness had confidence in in tn, and fell that Jie would say ho would keep his pledge. Sir Joseph Ward asked witness if any suggestion had been made that the Government in any way was directly or indirectly connected with tiie offer. Witness: None whatever.

Replying to Mr. Myers, witness said ne supported Mr. Payne at both the first ana second ballots. In answer to Mr. .Skerrett, witness said he told Mr. Payne ho only supported him in the interests of tiie trade.

Mr. Massey, called, said there was no sign of intoxication on McMasters when iie saw him.

Mr. Skerrett: Could witness understand why McMasters, if perfectly sober, should make,such an offer? Mr. Massey said he could understand such a thing. Mr. Payne did not toil witness i.e understood the offer as a joke. This concluded the evidence.

The Chairman announced .that the committee would deliberate and submit their report to the House to-mor-row.