58

[W SYMES.

1.—14.

249. So that the suggestion of the proposed presents to members was made without their knowledge or acquiescence?— Yes. It was made not by me, but by a lessee, who suggested it. The suggestion never came from me. 250 Apart from any members, was any intimation conveyed by you or by any members to the then Government that you contemplated making presents to the members for their services? —No. 251 Do you accept responsibility for the statement made in the letter of the 11th August as to the effect of the right colour upon you as a member or upon members of the House or upon members of the Government? —No, I thought it was an ordinary common saying. I took no notice of it; I paid no attention to it. 252. To put it in another way, can you be expected to accept the responsibility of what another person writes to you about? —No, certainly not. 253 That suggestion of " the right colour " in that letter of the 11th August was never transmitted by you to the Government? —No. 254. In Mr. Newland's letter he states that all those who helped you m the House were all Government men when the question of referring the petition back to the Committee for con, sideration came up. Is there anything unusual in the members upon either side of the House supporting a man on their own side in remitting a petition back to a Committee for reconsideration?—No, certainly not, but I really think some of the Opposition supported me. If they did not speak I am certain they voted, and I believe it came to a vote. 255. Well, as a matter of fact, Mr Symes, is there anything uncommon m members, upon either side of'the House supporting members of their own party in the action he takes in the House? —Nothing unusual; in fact, it is the usual thing rather than unusual. 256. Have you received any commission in connection with the sale of any property to the Government jointly with any other person—Mr Major, for instance ?—Never 257 If the statement i*s made that you shared a commission with Mr. Major upon a sale to the Government or Land Purchase Board, is that untrue ?—Absolutely untrue. I never had anybusiness transaction with Mr Major in my life in the shape of land or otherwise, and never shared sixpence commission with him. ; 258 In connection with the transmission of the amount upon the sale ot Alfred Bayly s estate, for which the price was £21,000-odd, did you receive payment for transmission to him?— No. 259 As a matter of fact, during the last session of Parliament what was your general attitude towards the Government—was it one of general support or keen criticism—sometimes most adverse to them?— Yes, sometimes. 260. Was your attitude during the last session of Parliament what one might term a politically friendly one?— Well, politically, no, it was not. The Chairman: I think we had better adjourn now-; but in regard to the other charge, Mr. Myers, what have you to say? Can you give us any idea of what it is? Mr Myers: I think the fairest course would be to hand it in when Mr Blomfield arrives tomorrow The Chairman Can you give us any indication of what the charge is I Mr Myers: Yes, the'charge is similar to this charge against Mr Symes, No. 3—a charge of receiving from various petitioners, against Mr Kaihau. The Chairman: How many witnesses do you think it will be necessary to call ? Mr Myers About nine. The Chairman Then that concludes your charges? Mr Myers: Yes. The Chairman You have another charge against Mr Kaihau? Mr Myers: There is one charge against Mr Kaihau and one against the Government—three altogether The Chairman • Those are all the charges Mr Hme is bringing { l\lt Dtliicts ' Yes Right Hon. Sir J G Ward I want to say that I propose to call Sir George Clifford and Dr Findlay in the matter of the Flaxbourne Estate. The Chairman: Have I got all,your witnesses now, Mr Myers? . Mr Myers I think so. If there are any more they are simply to produce files, lor instance Mr Kensington may have to be called instead of Mr Jackson Palmer I think I ought to tell the Committee that 'a number of the witnesses in Kaihau's case are Natives, whose evidence will have to be interpreted, and that does not tend to shorten the proceedings. In Committee. The Chairman: It is plain, gentlemen, that there will have to be a number of sittings of the Committee yet, and the question is whether we should not meet more frequently. Is it not. desirable that we should sit more frequently and longer? I should like to have an expression of opinion from you. There is also the question of Mr Symes getting away. Mr Massey: I should have been perfectly satisfied to let Mr Symes go away when the legal gentlemen had closed _ ni „\, r Right Hon Sir J G Ward Yes, so should I Ido not mind meeting at half past 5 to-night, and we will finish his evidence in half an hour You can meet in my room if you like. Mr Buchanan It would be a pity if he cannot get away The Chairman Now, in regard to meeting earlier Mr Massey Ido not care to sit earlier than 10 30 in the mornings. . Right Hon. Sir J G Ward: I think 10.30 is early enough to meet in the mornings. I do not mind meeting on Saturday, if you like.