MR. BRIDGES'S STATEMENT.

Colonist, Volume XVII, Issue 1980, 16 October 1875, Page 3

MR. BRIDGES'S STATEMENT.

A Bill has been passed by the New Zealand Parliament, and has received the Governor's assent, which, will indemnify Mr Bridges, or any person, from being proceeded against for libel on account of any evidence they might give before the Public Acccounts Committee. The Bill became law on Wednesday, and Mr Bridges was to appear before the Committee again on the following day. The Post says:—Despite Mr Bridges's recantation in reference to the Port Chalmers Railway matter— a recantation founded, we believe, on something Mr Luckie told Mr Bridges, as having been told to him by Mr Macandrew—we are inclined to think that Mr Bridges does know more about the transaction than it would suit some people to have made publio * * * * * It is remarkable that immediately before making his retraction Mr Bridges said that he would still refuse to answer questions the replies to which might expose him to legal proceedings, but that if fully indemnified he would have no objection to answer. Now we may ask why, if he knew nothing he should have feared Jlegal proceedings if he answered; and why, if he had nothing to tell, he should require an indemnity for saying bo ? We trust that the Publio Accounts Committee will now probe this matter to the very bottom; and Mr Bridges, having obtained the indemnity he asked for, is bound to speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. His honor demands it, arid his compliance with the demand is the only means by which he can justify what he has already said, or preserve the position lie has hitherto held in com* mercial and social life. The New Zealand Times says :~D'espite the anxiety of Messrs Macandrew and Reid to let the matter terminate here, the country will approve, as the House has approved, of the determination of Government to insist upon the affair being gone into fully so that it shall not be permitted to Mr Bridges to make most serious charges against members of the Legislature, and to calmly turn, round, when asked for confirmation, and say he was mistaken The first-named journal, in another article suggests that Mr Luckie should be examined by the Publio Accounts Committee, and concludes thus :— We may remark, however that the wonderful anxiety shown by Messrs Macandrew and Reid to burke further inquiry is apt fco cause some suspicion in the breasts of unconverted groundling?, who are also uable to reconcile-the fact that the General Government gave more for the Port Chalmers Railway than Messrs Proudfoot, Oliver, and Ulph originally demanded, with—we will not say perfect purity—but with ordinary practice in commercial transactions of the kind.