A. E. COPPING.]

29

1.—14.

27 Do you mean that papers receiving a telegram from a private individual are allowed by the Press Association to improperly use its name?—No, they are not allowed to do so, but by accident sometimes the line " Press Association " gets in. 28. Mr Myers ] You have been asked whether you sent a certain message with regard to Mr Hine : did you send a message which appeared in the New Zealand Times to the effect that the number of people who met Mr Hine on the platform was limited to three men and a man with a grievance?—l did not. 29 Right Hon. Sir J G Ward.] Was that a Press Association message?— Not to my knowledge. I did not send it. Mr Myers: That concludes the evidence on this particular charge. The question is whether the Committee desire at this stage to start another Mr Skerrett: May I say that I hope the Committee will ask my learned friend Mr Myers to proceed once with the remaining charge against Mr Symes—not to-day, of course, but at the next meeting The Chairman: That is the combined charge with Mr Major? Mr Skerrett Yes. Mr Myers lam prepared to meet my learned friend in every way What I was proposing to do was to take those two charges together In the one charge against Mr Major I think there are only one or two witnesses. The Chairman You propose to take those two charges together on the next sitting-day? Mr. Myers If the witnesses are here. Will Mr Fred. Bayly be here? The Chairman He has been summoned, and I have sent a wire insisting on his attendance. Mr Myers (after seeing telegram) That witness cannot possibly be here till to-morrow night. Mr Skerrett May I point out to my learned friend Mr Myers that he may very well proceed with the charge, and leave it open for further consideration whether he will really require Mr Frederick Bayly I think you will find that, as the matter develops, Mr Fred. Bayly's attendance will not be required. Mr Major Mr Chairman, may I put my matter before the Committee. So far as the charge against Mr Symes and myself being concerned together in a transaction is concerned, that charge cannot stand for one moment, for the reason that we were not partners in the sale of Alfred Bayly's property in any way whatever The question, so far as lam concerned myself, is in connection with the sale of Fred. Bayly's property Now, lam quite ready to admit'that, and lam very anxious to return by the train leaving here at a quarter past 12 to-morrow I should hope and believe that, so far as the question concerning myself is concerned, I could make any admission. It would take a very short time, and I would ask the Committee to let me get back as soon as I can I have been here since Monday, and I would ask the Chairman and members of the Committee to meet me in helping me to get away to-morrow lam not concerned in any charge except charge 1 Mr Myers And charge 2, that you got a commission from Alfred Bayly Mr Major: I had nothing whatever to do with that. The Chairman Do you propose to prove that, Mr Myers? Have you heard what Mr Major says—that he is not connected with charge 2 at all? _ Right Eon. Sir J G Ward Mr Major is not sworn, and I object to any variation unless he is sworn. The Chairman He is only making a statement. Mr Skerrett I am quite ready to give way to Mr Major's convenience. I believe, if my learned friend Mr Myers will undertake to call Mr Major as his first witness, no doubt we shall have the files here as we did in the last case, and I think the Committee will then find they will be able to dispose of Mr Major's evidence in order to allow him away by the morning train. Mr Myers I may want to call Frederick Bayly notwithstanding Mr Major's evidence, and Mr Major will not be here then, and he may want to hear what Mr Bayly says. The Chairman 'That is a matter for Mr Major himself Mr Myers Then I will be ready to go on to-morrow morning with the charge against MiMajor & 6 The Chairman Well, Mr Myers, to-morrow we will hear charges 1 and 2, but we will take No. 1 first, to allow Mr Major to get away Mr Myers _ They both affect Mr Major He says he is not concerned with the second, but we can hear it if the witnesses are here, and then we can go on with the other charge, relating to the Flaxbourne matter. Right Hon. Sir J G Ward: I want to say that I may require to call two witnesses upon this charge we are dealing with after Mr Major has finished.

Friday 4th November, 1910. The Chairman What charge, Mr Myers, do you now proceed with? Mr Myers _ I propose to take charges 1 and 2, to be heard together May I ask the Committee the position with regard to the charges already heard? As far as Mr Skerrett is concerned, I quite understand that he proposes to reserve his defence on all the charges against Mr Symes, but I understood from what was said yesterday that the Right Hon. the Premier intended to call some witnesses in connection with some of the charges already heard. Right Hon. Sir J G Ward I want to call one or two witnesses in reference to the Stratford advertising