MORE ABOUT HUMOURS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12398, 20 December 1909, Page 5

MORE ABOUT HUMOURS

| STRONG LANGUAGE. ( —_____ l Mr Mnssey said that he had another Avord or two to say on the subject. He ]iad received more communications in regard to the Wanganui River service tlian in regard to any other public mat- ' ter. It was a very extraordinary thing, ( lie said, that a bushman should be charged the same as a tourist, whilst a ' settler^ was carried for a lower rate. He hoped that the Government would insist upon a fixed scale of rates. He had heard rumours that had been going about, but he took very little notice of rumours at election' times. " I. have," he added, " been accused of every crime in the catalogue, except murder, and I am not sure that I have not been accused of that." Mr Russell: But you have never had your family attacked. ;: Mr Stallworthy (to Mr Massey): Are you apologising tor the other "fellow? Mr Massey (warmly) : If anyone ought to apologise it is the member for Kaipara. Some of the statements that have been made in the "WairOa Bell" are a scandal to the whole district. The Chairman: This discussion is out of order. 1 Mr Massey: Yes, it is out of order, but I was led off the track. I repeat thai no one in this House has been slandered more grossly than I have I been. . I I Mr Lauvenson : Oh! Oh! 1 Mr Massey: It is a fact. If I told , lion, members all that has been said about me it would make their hair stand on end. i The Hon. Mackenzie: It is only an indication of greatness. j Mr t Massey: I have correspondence now in my possession that would set the country in a blaze if it were published. It is all based on rumour, and f I will not give even a hint of what it contains. Mr Witty: Then why hint at it at all then? Mr Massey: I am not referring to any man in particular. I am not referring to any member of the Ministry. I will- say1 that. ; Mr Hogan said that, he understood that the Prime Minister had already promised to have a scale of charges on the- Wanganui River issued. This was why he (Mr Hogan) voted against the reduction. ' Mr Massey: I voted for, a scale of charges, but the lion, gentleman voted against the reduction, and thereby expressed approval of the service. Sir Josfeph Ward: The .leader of the Opposition says that he has received communications based upon rumour. I have received 'hundreds of such communications dealing with pub- ■ lie and private affairs and conveying ■ all sorts of inuendos. I have not made ] any use of any of thenv and I do not intend to make use of them. Ido , nob object to any statement about ray- j self, but I would feel ashamed of my- j self if I alluded to any member's wife. . . I would look upon it as unworthy of ■] me as a representative of the people. ] I should be very sorry to thus refer- , to any ' man's wife, either in or out i of publltc life. ■ ; ,- * .-■■• -•■•■•- ■■■--■■■" ] The vote was then agreed to. , Later in the day Mr Buick said he , had looked up the reports 'of. his elec- ( tion ■speeches in -the Palmerston papers j but he could not find the. record of any allusion by" him to Lady Ward in | connection with the Wanganui River !, service. The only refefeiiceta the sub- I] ject was a statement to the effect |, that "there,were peculiar tales as to ;• the connection of the Government and !j the Premier with the Hatrick Company |, at Wanganui." This, was all. he could j' find. " I therefore."- said ; Mr ; Buick, ■ " withdraw my apology, as v; I did not make the statement." * ■ Sir J. Ward: I am very glad to have ' the hon. gentleman's assurance, but I would remind him that there is a statement ;iu another - report which makes allusion to Lady Ward and not to myself. ; ■ ■ -; •• ■ " Mr Buick: I have not seen it. ' j Sir 'J.- Ward: It appeared all the i same. ...... I

STRONG LANGUAGE