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exercised by Mr. Vigor Brown and Sir Joseph Ward at Napier. I only desire to say that at the present time. It is inadvisable, I may point out, to have a discussion between counsel as to the meaning of a particular charge. The Chairman: Has Mr. Massey any documentary evidence in his possession that would lead him to believe that this charge has any foundation in fact? Mr. M. Myers: I have already stated that we do not make the charge, and we do not suggest it has any foundation in fact. The Chairman: You have no evidence to suggest that it has? Mr. M. Myers: No, we have no evidence. When we say that we do not suggest that the charge has any foundation in fact, that, of course, implies that we have no evidence to show that it has. Mr. Skerrett: May I at once state the position Mr. Payne takes up with reference to this charge? Mr. Payne feels bound to accept the unreserved retraction and apology which Mr. Massey has offered in connection with this matter, but he desires the opportunity of stating on oath, if that be permissible, or by oral statement, that there is not a word of truth in the accusation which is implied in the charge. Mr. Massey: Just to make the matter perfectly clear, and following up what has been stated by Air. Myers, let me say that 1 made no charge. Mr. Payne asked me a question—whether he was supposed to have been squared; and I said that what was stated in Auckland was this, that he had been squared by Mr. Vigor Brown and Sir Joseph Ward at Napier. "Squared" is an unhappy term in this connection, but the word " squared " was first used by Mr. Payne himself in asking a question of me. I should like to say that even in the Auckland streets there was never any suggestion that money had passed. Mr. Russell: I wish to ask now, if Mr. Massey is giving evidence, whether the Committee will be able to cross-examine him on the statements that are being made. The Chairman: I take it that if Mr. Massey makes a statement it is open to us to cross-examine him. Mr. Massey: lam quite willing to answer questions. (At this stage Mr. Massey was sworn.) The Chairman: Will you lead, Mr. Myers? Mr. M. Myers: I do not propose to call any evidence. Mr. Massey wants to make a short statement. Mr. Skerrett: May I rise to a point of order i Mr. Massey, by his counsel and by himself, has stated that he unreservedly withdrew the charge contained in the statement. It seems to me to be quite unimportant whether Mr. Massey made the charge or whether he was giving utterance to some rumour or statement which had been made to him. But what I desire to point out is that it is too late now for Mr. Massey, after the apology has been accepted—and it is unfair, too —to attempt not to support the charge, but to whittle away, excuse it, and palliate it. I submit that the meaning of the charge is entirely a question for members of the Committee, and they can consider it themselves without the assistance of Mr. Massey or counsel concerned. I point out that, as a matter of law—and there are some members of the Committee who are aware of it—the construction of a written document is entirely for the Court, and no evidence can be called to explain the nature of the document or its interpretation unless the words have an ambiguous meaning. Mr. M. Myers: There is no dispute. What Mr. Massey says is this :he has made no charge and makes no charge; he says that if those words be read as a charge, he never made it and does not make it. Mr. Skerrett: Will my friend explain these words of Mr. Massey , s : "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 " ? Mr. M. Myers: The Committee may, of course, place any interpretation it likes upon the words. That is quite another matter. But what Mr. Massey has always said is this, that he has not made any charge of anything dishonest on the part even of Mr. Payne or the other gentlemen named. He has not made the charge, does not make it, and in answer to you, Mr. Chairman, I said that we had no evidence to offer. The Chairman: Mr. Massey, what is the statement that you desire to make to the Committee? Mr. Massey: I had almost finished. I was going on to tell the Committee what was said in Auckland, and the meaning of it. Mr. Allen: Better not, I think. The Chairman: I think you are only making by repeating hearsay. Unfortunately, hearsay has landed you in a regrettable position, as you will admit yourself, and I think you would only be making your position worse. However, it is not for me to give advice. Mr. Massey: There is one point I want to make perfectly clear : that there was no suggestion of money having passed as between Mr. Brown and Mr. Payne, or between Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Payne. . Mr. Payne: There was. Mr. Massey: Not in this. There was never any suggestion of money having passed, even in Auckland streets. There were jocular allusions to Mr. Payne finding himself The Chairman: 1 would not go into that. Mr. Massey: Very well. That is all I have to say. Mr. Skerrett: I desire to say, on behalf of Mr. Payne, that he has no wish to make matters unpleasant for Mr. Massey, or to press the matter unduly against him. I have objected to Mr. Massey construing for himself the words which he used. That, I say, is for the Committee. All that I wish now is permission to call my client to show that there is not a word of truth in the suggestion which is contained in the statement. lam not a bit interested as to whether Mr. Massey made it from his own knowledge or on hearsay, or whether he is responsible or not. I want to rebut the charge.