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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 982, 31 December 1908, Page 22

This is the first I have heard Of it. We have been investigating the mat- .. ter on the-basis of the.one case, but now I am being asked to extend the scopt to include a lot of matter brought up, on the moment this morning. . 'I do not think it, is a;-fair rd- , quest, and 1 am surprised at it being '■ made - . What you are ,asking is a Commission to investigate the- carry; ing out of the law all over .the Dominion, and that is a matter that Parliament itself would require to . discuss first. If an investigation of ■ is required, I would not take the responsibility without consulting ’. Parliament. I am not prepared to’ agree with your request. I have come here to deal; with a particular matter, and now I ffirid requests made 1 - for something entirely different. "y Mr. ■] Spragg: / The resolutions conveyed to you,' and. the, petition, included - the request for a general scope. Sir Joseph: If you want a general •inquiry all over the Dominion I must; tell you;at once I Iwcn’t accept responsibility. „ - * Mr. Mdss. A fortnight woqld do it ? ...Sir Joseph:. Pardon me, a fortnight would not. The request would -mean a Commission going on an exploring tour, and we know from experience WhiaU that . Mr-. JMoss. .said a Royal . ..Commission was not wanted for punishment, but Ito- ffind -out what magistrates "and justices had disgraced the p§sjtion they 1 held. ... The Urime Minister: ■ > It is because magistrates and justices arg, referred /,f \ to that 11,I 1, think a Coininissron should investigate.; ' 1 Mr,-.- Mosst ,If it’s the case only, that’s already proved. Sir Joseph: We propose to have - investigated the statement's made to me in the docuiqents. A > Mr. Spragg; We willbe perfectly satisfied if you cover the ground mentibned in the resolution. ? Sir Joseph: Ij.am. notrgoijag to be ■ 1 J>u‘t in i. wrong position by Spragg. [ -2 lit propose) that the Gbrnmishion shall investigate the statements specially made....lf-a torpid er work is requir'""ed it is a,matter for the" consideration of Parliament. v “ — - ■- -' Mr; Macky' said the Prime Minister had put the matter plainly, and met the deputation very fairly, . Mr. Moss reiterated.’ that the par- ’■ tictilar case the sworn declaration . was in respect to was already proved. Sir Joseph: There are very serious charges ins-respect to that, -and they must be investigated', Mr.' Moss. ’ There are many other,, matters. If we got sworn declarations the parties would be warned and might disappear. ■ By ■ not revealing our. know-edge till the Commission sat, if it was a Commis- > . Sion with a general scope, we- could .. prove other cases. . , Sir Joseph: I have already intimated the course the Government proposes to take. This closed the discussion.