MR. MASSEY ON MR. TAYLOR

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3269, 14 July 1911, Page 5

MR. MASSEY ON MR. TAYLOR

THE “VOUCHER” CASE.

STATEMENT MADE IN PARLIAMENT.

“I COULD TELL A STRANCE

STORY.”

When invited by the Canterbury Political Reform League to take the chair; on the occasion of Mr W. F. Massey’s meeting in Christchurch, Mr T. Eri Taylor, M.P. (the Mayor), sent tlie following reply:— “I shall have pleasure in presiding at the meeting to be addressed by Mr W. F. Massey on Tuesday next at the Chcral Hall. On 29th November, 1910, when speaking in the House of Representatives, Mr Massey used the following words (see page 1170, Hansard, of 29th November 1910): “ ‘I was behind the scenes in connection with that famous lawsuit (the Seddon-Taylor case) that took place in Christchurch, and I thank Heaven I had nothing to do with it. If it ever, falls to my lot to be in a position to do so, I could tell a strange story in! connection with it, but I cannot tell it at present. If I can get leave tons© the information I possess, I will use it on the platform in Christchurch, and then there will be an end! to the hon. gentleman politically. * . “I expect Mr Massey will avail himself of this opportunity of proving the allegation quoted above, and, failing his ability to do so, that he will tender myself and the constituency I have the honor to renresent in theParliament a frank and generous apology for the slander he uttered under shelter of his Parliamentary privileges.—Yours faithfully, T. ETAYLOR.” In conversation with a reporter, Mr. Taylor remarked that if Mr Massey did not require him as chairman hewould be present as a member of the audience.

THE INCIDENT RECALLED,

A FIERCE DUEL

The incident in question arose at thetime the notorious “Black pamphet” was under discussion in the House. In the course of his speech, Mr Taylor who was really responsible for the debate, remarked: “Whether the Opposition members approve of the circulation of that pamphlet or not—l hope they do not—it is perfectly true that that pamphlet is being received with gleeful spirit by thousands of men who support the Opposition in this country It is being approved of as far as possible by men who hope that it is going to have a destructive political effect on the man’s political fortunes against whom it is directed.” Mr W. Fraser: You have no right to say that. Mr Taylor: Have I no right io say what I have heard on the streets of this city and on the streets of other cities? I have heard it is having a deadly effect-, and I believe it is probably having that effect, and it is a most scandalous attack; because I do not care if every statement in that pamphlet were true., there must be some limit to the responeibilitv of every man for his action. I am not going to discuss the allegations in the pamphlet, but- the innuendoes in the pamphlet are scandalous, and I make no apology for saying that that kind of publication has received encouragement from certain kinds of newspapers in New Zealand who place no restriction at all upon the hostility they display to any political opponent. . . .” There was a brisk passage between Mr. Taylor and Mr. Andersen (member for Mataura). ' - Mr Massey then delivered a very heated speech, in the course of which he said:—“We have had a characteristic speech from the hon. member for Christchurch North—a speech such as we axe accustomed to hear. . . Only in past years those speeches were directed at that (the Government) side of the House and directed against a man who has passed away, and whose hoots the honourable gentleman was not fit to clean. Mr Taylor: Always straight fighting.I do not use the stiletto. Mr Massey: The hoii. gentleman says he does not- use the stiletto. I remember a speech delivered bv the hon'. gentleman not long ago. . . . After I made a speech he came into his place in the House, and he told me later on in the session he would skin me. Now, skinning implies a knife, and the liongentleman is a good baud at using a knife when ho gets behind the person on whom he intends to use it. . The whole history of the hon. gentleman shows that he is a curse to any political party with which he is connected. . Tho 'one tiling that smashed the Opposition five years ago was the fact that we were supposed to be connected with' the hon. gentleman in his attack upon the late Right Hon. Mr Seddon. The hon. gentleman is attacking us now, and! I venture to say that the position will be reversed. Mr Taylor: It was Mr Fisher. Mr Massey: I know all about it. I remember the bitter speeches that were made at tlie time, and tlie mean tactics that were adopted with the attack that way made by the hon. gentleman on the late Mr. Seddon—tactics with which I had not the slightest sympathy. . . . - It is not a fair thing to suggest that' any mail on this side of the House ia responsible for'what is going on in connection with the pamphlet. I turn tot I the honourable gentleman and ask him if his own hands are clean.

Mr Taylor: Absolutely. Mr Massey: Are they I ovas behind tile scenes in connection with, that famous lawsuit- that tools place in Christchurch, and I thank heaven that I had nothing to do with it. If it ever, falls to inv'"lot to be- in a position to dof so, I could tell a strange story in connection avitli it, but I cannot tell it at, present. Mr Taylor: I challenge you. to say, anything you knoaa- in connection with "fcJuvb cas€. Mr Massey: If I get leave to use the information avhich I possess, then I aadll use it on the platform in Christchurch, and then there avill ho an end of the honorable gentleman politically. Mr Taylor: My hands are clean. If you could have done that you would have done it before. You leaa r e it to innuendo. . Mr Massey: What is that? Innuendo. Is it not innuendo to male© men who sit on this side, of the House, and who are straight-going, decent men, responsible for a transaction which any decent man ought to be ashamed of? I leave the lion, member for Christchurch North