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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 80a
Quite a New Form of Bribery
Quite a New Form of Bribery.
«Did the Government pay £75 to T. E. Taylor, to be paid to Caygill and Widdowson, for the costs in the Popham-Taylor libel case?»
Mr. Seddon replied. «Yes; and under the circumstances I would do so again.»
That is to say, that if a man is found to have libelled another, and a jury awards damages, the Government is warranted in stepping in and paying the costs, This is supporting the Prohibition League with public money with a vengeance. "What do Messrs. Fisher, Wilson, Hornsby, Wilford, and the rest of the Liberty Liquor League who are supporting the Government say to this sop to T. E. Taylor, the Firebrand?
Then a week later, at West port, he denied paying the money, and said Government had never paid a shiling. But the £75 was voted in the Supplementary Estimates, for all that, and went towards the costs in the Sydenham cases.
Mr Seddon's versatility is easily explained. Oxford is a prohibition stronghold, and the renowned Meredith, better known by his classic title of Archie Meeds, is the member. Westport, on the contrary, has a couple of breweries, and half of the houses in the main street are pubs. There are over sixty in the Buller electorate, and it would never have done to show sympathy with Mr. T. E. Taylor there. These tittle traits in the Premier's character exhibit the true greatness of the man.
To verify the report of the Oxford meeting we wired to the Chairman, who replied that it was correct.