BREACHES OF PRIVILEGES

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1932, Page 7

BREACHES OF PRIVILEGES

MR. MACINTOSH'S ADDENDUM

MEMBERS RESENT HIS CHARGES,

COMMITTEE. REPORTS DISCUSSED,

HOUSE JEALOUS OF ITS HONOUR.

By Telegraph,—Press Association. . ’ Wellington, Last Night. The report of the committee ;of privilege was discussed when the House of Representatives resumed, at 7.30 tonight. ' The Leader of the Opposition, Mr.-H. E. Holland, said he desired to place on record some facts connected with the examination of' Mr. A. Macintosh by the committee, but -before doing- that he wished to say that had he been aware of the disabilities suffered by Mr. Macintosh (undoubtedly due to his advanced years) he would have hesitated to move the resolution which ultimately resulted in the committee of privilege being ' set up. Mr. Holland said the charge levelled against members of Parliament by Mr. Macintosh in his addendum to the National -Expenditure Commissions report was of a most serious character, and if true" it should be followed with a s definite action against the. responsible Ministers who were parties to the corruption alleged. Unfortunately Mr. Macintosh, who had insisted that he was under a bond of confidence not to disclose either the source or the nature of the evidence on which'his' charge was based, had refused to answer any question in this connection. Mr. Holland said he did not believe any such evidence existed, but if it were there it should be brought into the light of day.- While it was kept hidden the unsupported charge made by Mr. Macintosh would bring every member of the House under suspicion of having been a party to the alleged acts of corruption,

CONFIDENTIAL EVIDENCE.

• Alter quoting some of the questions put by himself and the answers given by Mr. Macintosh, Mr. Holland said Mr. Ma.cTnt.nißh ’a- attitude would indicate that when the commission was appointed it had been laid down as a condi-

tion that the evidence on * which its 1 finding would be made must be regarded as confidential. He contended that the order of reference did not bear the interpretation placed, on it by Mr. MacT-ntofib. It. would be disastrous if the Government should lay down such a condition.

After repeating that: he did not believe Mr. Macintosh or any other members of the commission had found evidence that would justify the charge made, Mr. Holland asked how it had come about that only Mr. Macintosh had found this evidence and that it had not been found by the commission as a, whole. He wanted to ask the Prime Minister how Mr. Macintosh had come to be appointed to so important a commission.. The Prime Minister having appointed him to the National Expenditure Commission was now along with other members of the committee of privilege recommending that because of Mr. Macintosh’s advanced years the House should not further hold him accountable for the breach of law he had committed. It was only fair to stress the tact that the motion drafted and moved by Mr. Forbes had received the unanimous support of the privilege committee. This motion and the committee’s recommendation constituted an illuminating commentary on the selection of the personnel of the National Expenditure Commission.

BOSSIBLE- CONSEQUENCES.

Mr. W. E. Barnard (Lab./ Napier) said that at a time like the present, ■when there was discontent and dis-

satisfaction with -existing institutions, everyone would realise that any reflection on. the honour and word of Parliament was very ■ serious and might well be-carried to lengths involving the whole safety of the State. While Parliament "had its defects it was the one safeguard which the citizens had against ■ the results of unbridled bureaucracy and. tyranny. Mr. R. A.. Wright (Co., Wellington Suburbs) said. ..he .. believed Mr. Mae-. Intosh. in compiling the addendum had had in" mind'the actions of’members ofParliament in. supporting agitations and deputations from their electorates for the erection of new buildings such as post,-offices. He did not think Mr. Macintosh- had. intended to reflect on members of Parliament individually. Mr. Barnard; He would not say he meant that. - •'*•••' ■ Mr. ..Wright proceeded to elaborate his view 'of what Mr. Macintosh had meant until Mr. Speaker interposed that it appeared Mr. Wright was doing his best to prove no breach of privilege had been committed. Mr ..Wright: I am suggesting a wrong construction has been placed on his remarks. . ... ■ . . Mr. Speaker pointed? out that the House, had decided a breach of privilege had been committed and it was too late at 'that stage to submit what was tantamount to argument that no breach had been committed. Mr. Wright: Very well, then. I am arguing that the punishment is too great. (Laughter). Mr. Forbes: What is the punishment? Mr; Wright submitted that the committee’s reference to Mr. Macintosh’s advanced age. might well be regarded by Mr. Macintosh as a reflection upon him. Mr. P; Fraser (Lab., Wellington Central) commented on the sections of Mr. Macintosh’s evidence before the committee as published by .some newspapers, and said Mr. Macintosh had been made to appear as an aged war-rior-valiantly defying his accusers instead of a poor old man who had blundered.-

MR. POLSON INDIGNANT.

Mr. W. J. Polson (Co., Stratford) ■aid -he did not .think .Mr. Fraser’s comment was fair when one considered how highly Mr. Macintosh was regarded by those who knew him. It tilled him with the highest indignation, when an attempt was made to hold Ml Macintosh up to public ridicule. Replying to the debate, the Chairman of Committees (Mr. S. G. Smith) said he thought the House would recognise that the nature of the committee’s report was due to the state of Mr. Macintosh’s health at the time. For five months all 'the Government’s files had been available to Mr. Macintosh, and if on those files there was any evidence in support of the charges which had been made.it should be. made available, and. there■would not be any breach of confidence. The committee’s attempts to get .Mr. Macintosh to alter his view that he would be divulging the confidence reposed in him had been unavailing. The. committee's report on the breach of privilege was then adopted. Commenting on the committee’s report ih respect' to the charge against the Dominion newspaper, Mr. Barnard expressed satisfaction with the attitude

that had been taken up by Mr. Earle, the editor. He said Mr. Earle had agreed that it would be a great pity if anything were done that would, injure such a great institution as Parliament, but that criticism was necessary

The report was adopted. The committee’s report in respect to the charge against the Christchurch Sun was also adopted without discussion. The report on words used by Mr. F. W. Johnston, Christchurch, and reported in the Sun was also adopted. Mr. D. McDougall said he and Mr. Johnston would understand each other better now that the mist had blown away. He accepted Mr. Johnston’s apology.