1.—7

2

BEPOETB. PRIVILEGE COMMITTEE No. 1. I am directed to report, — That Privilege Committee No. 1, to whom was referred the consideration of the writing and publishing of a letter, admitted to be written to and received by the honourable member for Franklin, an extract from which letter was read in the House on Friday, the 23rd day of February, by the said honourable member, and a copy of which extract is as follows : " You may remember my introducing you to young- , son of , one of my young Catholic party who do not follow Ward. He worked hard and loyally for us in Parnell, Ponsonby, and especially in Grey Lynn. He now assures me that Payne has been squared (£1,000) to support Ward on a confidence motion. So sure is he of the correctness of the information that his dad is offering level money up to £100 on Payne voting against you on such motion, and does not waste any money on bets without some reason," —is unable to inquire further into the matters contained in the order of reference, by reason of the fact that Mr. Massey, having been asked to produce the letter referred to and to give the name of the writer, respectfully declined to produce the letter or disclose the name of the writer. 29th February, 1912. J. A. Hanan, Chairman. PRIVILEGE COMMITTEE No. 2. I am directed to report, — That Privilege Committee No. 2, to whom was referred certain words used by, and the extract of a letter read by, Mr. Massey in the House on the 23rd February, to take such words into consideration and to report to the House whether a breach of privilege has been committed, and by whom, and to inquire as to the truth or otherwise of the alleged charge against the member for Napier and the Right Hon. the Prime Minister, is of opinion that the use of the words in debate in the House on the 23rd day of February, 1912, by the member for Frankin—namely, " Then he said something about whether he was supposed to have been squared, and I said, ' What was stated in Auckland at the present moment was this : that he had been squared by Mr. Vigor Brown and Sir Joseph Ward at Napier.' Now, that was the statement that was made quite openly in Auckland. I think Mr. Payne had begun to see the serious position he proposed to take up, and he said, ' Just let me think this over ' " —does not constitute a breach of privilege. Also, that the Committee, after hearing the evidence, is satisfied that there is no truth in the alleged charge in paragraph 1 of the order of reference —namely, " Then he said something about whether he was supposed to have been squared, and I said, ' What was stated in Auckland at the present moment was this : that he had been squared by Mr. Vigor Brown and Sir Joseph Ward at Napier.' Now, that was the statement that was made quite openly in Auckland. I think Mr. Payne had begun to see the serious position he proposed to take up, and he said, ' Just let me think this over ' " —made against the member for Napier (Mr. Brown), the Right Hon. the Prime Minister (Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, Bart.), and the member for Grey Lynn (Mr. Payne). Also, that paragraph 2 of the order of reference —namely, "You may remember my introducing you to young , son of , one of my young Catholic party who do not follow Ward. He worked hard and loyally for us in Parnell, Ponsonby, and especially in Grey Lynn. He now assures me that Payne has been squared (£1,000) to support Ward on a confidence motion. So sure is he of the correctness of the information that his dad is offering level money up to £100 on Payne voting against you on such motion, and does not waste any money on bets without some reason " —is dealt with in the report of Privilege Committee No. 1. 29th February, 1912. J. A. Hanan, Chairman. PRIVILEGE COMMITTEE No. 3. I am directed to report, — That the Privilege Committee No. 3, to whom was referred the statement made by the member for Grey Lynn, Mr. Payne, in the House on Friday, the 23rd day of February, 1912, to the effect that one McMaster, of Auckland, had been give the member for Grey Lynn anything between £500 and £1,000 if he, the member for Grey Lynn, would go in the direction of the Ward party, to inquire into the truth or otherwise of such charge alleged therein, is of opinion :— That the evidence taken on oath as to the words used is conflicting. Mr. Payne says the words used were, " ' What do you think? I have been authorized to offer you £500 to £1,000, if you will go ' —T think that was the word— , with the Ward Administration.' "• Mr. McMaster denies the use of the above words, and says the words used were, " That I (McMaster) could get £500 if 1 could handle you'(Payne)." There being no further evidence on that point, the Committee is unable to say what the exact words used were. The evidence leads the Committee to conclude that. whatever statement was made was not taken seriously by either Mr. Payne or by Mr. McMaster at the time it was made. 29th February, 1912. J, A. Hanan, Chairman,