BREEZY INTERLUDE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 250, 20 September 1929, Page 8

BREEZY INTERLUDE.

CHAIRMAN’S METHODS ADOPTED

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. The methods adopted by the chairman of the Parliamentary M to Z Committee (Mr T. W. McDonald) in crossquestioning the principal witness (Mr E. E. Vaile) in support of the TaupoRotorua railway petition were criticised by members of the committee in the course of a breezy interlude which took place to-day. It was alleged that the chairman showed political bias and that the inquiry was not being conducted on strictly impartial lines. This was denied by the chairman. Mr Vaile said that he had offered 10,000 acres of land to the Government and pointed out that this was qualified by the condition that he should have the right to sell to any other person until tne Government had actually paid a deposit. “This is a worthless thing,” said Mr McDonald. Witness: It is an offer. Mr McDonald: Conditional on the railway going through. Witness: Certainly. Mr McDonald : Yet you say you don’t want to get anything out of it. You must know the railway is going through before you will agree to sell to the Government. Should the prayer of the petition be granted you’ll sell to the Government. Witness: Yes; otherwise there is no call for it. Mr McDonald: I submit that this is an attempt on your part to get the Government to construct this line. Mr H. S. S. Kyle said that it showed he was satisfied with the value of the railway. He did not see why the chairman should give a personal opinion. They were there to hear evidence. Mr R. Semple said that the chairman was showing a bad example to the committee. The investigation should be as broad as possible without showing feeling or prejudice. The chairman : I am not. Mr Semple: I want to sav that you are. • You have practically demonstrated political bias, and I object to The chairman said that Mr Semple had shown bias on the previous day. It was his bounden duty to get all the Mr A. M. Samuel also alleged bias and said that the committee should sit in a judicial capacity and not pass opinions on the statements until afterwards. Mr McDonald said that his only object was to get to the bottom of the railway proposal.