The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1898. A QUEENSLAND SCANDAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9382, 8 March 1898, Page 2

The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1898. A QUEENSLAND SCANDAL.

The disclosures of tho committee appointed to inquire into the affairs ot the Queensland National Bank showed that amon,; other undesirable, not to say indefensible things, Sir Thomas Mcllwraith, one of the directors and a Cabinet Minister, had become indebted to the Bank for an enormous amount. At the time of the disclosures Sir Thomas was on the Continent for the benefit of his health, which had, it is said, completely broken down under the strain of his financial dilficulties. Thero was an outcry in Queensland that the directors and auditors of the National Bank should be prosecuted, and the Government were charged with having a desire to shelter one of the Ministers whose transactions with the Bank were of anything but a satisfactory nature. The Premier, Sir Hugh Nelson, wrote to Sir T. Mcllwraith exp'aining that the Labour Party were making things unpleasant for the Government, and that some of the Government supporters were also trying to make it appear that the delay in publishing the report of the committee of investigation arose from a desire on the part of Ministers to shield a co'league. Sir H. Nelson assured Sir Thomas that the Government would do all in its power to secure him equitable treatment, but that his partnership with Mi* Drury had considerably weakened his (Sir Thomas Mcllwraifch's) position. The Premier, furthermore, informed Sir Thomas that the existence of the Government depended on tho publication of the report, and cabled to him advising him to resign. His own opinion was that if the press ceased stirring up the matter the whole affair would quickly drop into oblivion. No doubt it would help all such unpleasant episodes to pass out of the public mind, and those responsible for them to forget their part in them if the press could only bo muzzled. Fortunately, this is not easy of accomplishment, as there are always some outs2)okon journals that hwe courage enough to let daylight into the dark places of public life. Sir Hugh Nelson's letter to Sir T. Mcllwraith had the effect of drawing from the latter a furious reply, wherein he stated that the Preinier'3 delay in writing was the grossest and most criminal neglect of a colleague, and that as the commitee ofinvestigation intended making charges against him he demanded to be heatd before tho report was published. Sir Hugh promised that the charge? should bo cabled to Sir Thomas, but the latter declares he never did so, and that Sir Hugh Nelson, the House, and the pross had passed judgment with a ferocity unparalleled even in colonial warfare. To show how angry Sir T. Mcllwraith is with his former chief, we quote the concluding lines of his final letter to Sir H. Nelson, in which ho says : — " You have shown by your letter to me that you have neglected the plain duty you owe to your colleague and country in listening to and being swayed by the whispering crowd of dissatisfied, selfseeking supporters, who prefer pouring their wishes into your private ear to boldly expressing them in Parliament When my affairs were brought before Parliament I was represented, on your authority, as enjoying most perfect health ; in fact, luxuriating on the Continent I can fancy, after such information, that many men, otherwise well disposed, may have pictured me as snapping my fingers at the committee, and bidding defiance to those legitimately entitled to criticise my actions. You saw the effect such statements had— -you knew the effect the repetition of them constantly in the press and outside was having against me, and although you were the originator of the statements you have sat quietly up to the present time, without a single word to put my real position in the right view. When you left me at Wilbad I had reason to expect justice at least. I little expected from you the calumny and hypocrisy which led you to plead my bad health and poverty to Bjep from whom I would never ask for grace. A manly statement of the truth as you found it would have beon much better than putting me in the humiliating position you did when you condescended to a p ayful summer picturing of yourself decorated as a sacrifice to the gods. You will be disappointed in wishing that tho wholo matter may be buried in oblivion, as long as I have a clear lieu,'} t<o defend myself. You say, in conclusion (,hii.t you understand my solicitor had to telegraph advising me to tender my resignation. He did not do so, nor have you the slightest authority for making such a statement. lie is too much of a man for you even to have dared to make such a suggestion to him." By the above it will be seen how bitter is the quarrul between these two men, who for years were the stauuehest friends until the gold shades of adversity came upon Sir Thomas Mclhvrait'i, who, what ever his faults, was head and shoulders above the present Premier of Queensland, who rose to his present position largely through the influence and efforts of the man he has aban- 1 doned to his enemies in his hour of ' jieed and at a time when he is broken down in health and fortune.