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08. When you had this interview with him on the 9th February did he not say, " There is a rumour that you are going to support the Ward Administration "I —No, lie did not say that. Gi). I thought he first saw you because he heard there was a rumour? —No. 70. Did he not say, " There will be a new election and Mr. Fowlds will get in if you do not keep to your pledge " I —No, Ido not think so. Ido not recall it at all. 71. If Mr. McMaster puts it in that way, do you not think it is likely to be correct? —No. I remember fairly clearly what took place. There were only a few words altogether. 72. Mr. McMaster's version of it is this : that he said to you, " 1 could get £500 if I could handle you." You put the words differently? — Mr. McMaster said to me, "What do you think? 1 am authorized to give you £500 to £1,000 if you vote with the Ward Administration." 73. Have you a definite recollection of the exact words used? —I have. 74. Then you will not agree with Mr. McMaster as to exactly what words were used, apparently? —Those words are what 1 saj - were used. 75. Mr. McMaster was in an excited state, 1 understand? —Yes, lie was under the influence of liquor. 76. You thought it was that. Might it not have been that he was just excited with the idea of your breaking your pledge? —I did not know that there was any conversation about breaking my pledge then. It was not really known. 77. Was the matter not introduced in that way by his asking you the question?— No. 78. He was the secretary of your committee, was he not? —Yes. 79. 1 understand that you did not take it as a serious offer, did you? —I did not, in the circumstances I have already related. 80. And you did not ask him by whom the offer was made, or for whom he was acting?— The attitude I take is this : that you would knock a man down if he made such an offer when he was sober. 81. Do you not remember his saying anything about their being afraid that Mr. Fowlds might come back? —No. 82. Mr. M. Myers.] You met Mr. McMaster at the Thistle Hotel, Queen Street? —Yes. 83. By whom is that kept? —By Mr. Maurice O'Connor, 1 think. 84. Did you know him before that day?— No. 85. Were you introduced to him that day?— Yes, by Mr. McMaster. 86. Do you know whether or not Mr. O'Connor is an acknowledged supporter of the Ward Administration ?—I could not tell you whether he is. 87. You said yesterday, if 1 remember rightly, that you spoke to two gentlemen in Auckland with whom you were associated in connection with Hie election about this offer? —Yes; that was in the evening. 88. Of what day?— Friday, the 9th February. 89. Who were the gentlemen to whom you spoke?— Mr. Durbridge, chairman of my Richmond Committee, and Mr. Cathie, my chief of committees. 90. And you told them that an offer had been made to you?— Yes. We had a general conversation. This post-office rumour was mentioned. 91. You also said yesterday that you told Mr. Massey an offer had been made to you?— That was in these buildings. Mi. Young: In Mr. McMaster's interests I ask that that be not introduced. Mr. Myers is not acting for Mr. McMaster. I must take exception. The Chairman: 1 think Mr. Young's contention is sound. Mr. M. Myers: Then 1 shall ask the Committee to put this question : Did Mr. Payne tell Mr. Massey that he did not take the offer seriously, or that it was made by a person under the influence of liquor ? " Mr. Skerrett: I object to that. The Chairman : I cannot have it. Mr, Lee: I would move that we get any evidence which will clear up the question whether Mi-. Payne seriously thought this was an oiler or not. We have his conversation with Mr. Massey and we have his attitude in the House. It lias a material bearing. Mr. Skerrett: May I point out that I asked a question relating to the interview with Mr. Massey and was at once stopped. It is obviously unfair that 1 should be stopped from leading the whole of the interview and that cross-examination should be allowed upon it. The Chairman: 1 have stopped Mr. Myers, on Mi , . Young's objection. Mr. M. Myers: If you press it, of course I abandon the question. What I say is this, that what Mr. Payne said to Mr. Massey was the cause of the whole of the trouble that arose. The Chairman : That may be, but it is a reflection on Mr. McMaster, and he was not there. Mr. M. Myers: May I point out that this question, does not reflect on Mr. McMaster? The sole question is this that I ask to have put: Did Mr. Payne tell Mr. Massey when he spoke about this offer that the offer was made by a person who was under the influence of liquor, or that Mr. Payne did not take it seriously? The Chairman : That opens up the whole tiling. You cannot put the question. Mr. M. Myers: Then I ask Mr. Payne this : Did you tell your Auckland friends by whom the offer was made? Mr. Young: I submit that that is equally objectionable to us. We are not to be tried by hearsay. The Chairman: I rule that Mr. Myers cannot put that question. 92. Mr. Fraser.] You said that when Mr. McMaster made this proposal or suggestion to you you did not consider he was quite conscious of what he was saying? —I said that he was certainly under the influence of liquor. In the House I made the statement that he was in a drunken, half-maudlin condition, or half-drunken. ■ 93. You also told us that Mr. McMaster accompanied you to see Mr. Massey? —Yes. 94. What state was he in when he walked with you to Mr. Massey , s room? —He went with me in a taxicab. He walked in all right. A man is drunk if he cannot walk. A man may be able to walk about.