THE HINE CHARGES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 960, 29 October 1910, Page 3

THE HINE CHARGES.

MEETING OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE. FLAXBOURNE ESTATE. A CHARGE AGAINST GOVERNMENT. WITNESSES TO BE PAID. The Special Committee appointed by the House of Representatives to inquire into the charges preferred. by Mr. J. B. Hine, member for Stratford, against a member and two ex-members of the House, sat yesterday morning, when all the preliminaries that must precede the' taking of evidence were settled. The members of the Special Committee present were: Mr. J. A. Hanan (chairman), Sir Joseph Ward, Messrs. W. F. Massey, J. Allen, W. Fraser, A. M. Myers, W. C. Buchanan, H. V. Reed, and J. Graham. The chairman read telegrams from Mr. Symes and Mr. Major, the exmembers, against whom charges were brought. Both expressed a 'desire to give evidence. Mr. Symes said he was leaving for Wellington, and would arrive last- night. Mr. Major. said Tuesday would suit him. Mr. Kailiau, the third member against whom allegations were made, was in attendance. Counsel to be Allowed. : It was resolved, on the motion, of Mr. Massey, that Mr. Hine and the persons charged should have the assistance of counsel. Sir Joseph .Ward said he thought the persons charged should be told to come to Wellington. Mr, Fraser: They must como here. Six Joseph said he wanted to get some' information from Mr. Hine in connection with the charge in which the newspaper at Stratford was mentioned. The committee should have the witnesses, and it should bo their duty to stay, in Wellington till the committee was done with them. Mr. Massey: Do you propose to ask i Mr. Hine what charges he desires to take first? , Sir Joseph Ward: I think Mr. Hine should direct the sequence of witnesses. Sir Joseph then moved that the parties be informed that .they would be required to come before the committee on Tuesday. Mr.-Fraser: Do you want the people to be "here with all • their witnesses? '

Sir Joseph: We want Messrs. Major, Sj'mes, and Kailiau to be here. Mr. Fraser: With their witnesses P. Joseph: That is for them to say. We want them here themselves. I do not know anything about their witnesses. ,

Mr. Fraser: Then they will come here on Tuesday, but they will- not bring their witnesses with, them., l Mr. Myers': I would suggest that they, be summoned to be here on Tuesday, and told, to bring, witnesses with them if they wish. ' The motion was agreed to in that form. '

Mr. Hine's counsel (Mr. M. Myers) was then admitted t-o join Mr. Hine, who was already present. The chairman: What charge do you propose to take first?

Mr: Myers: I propose first to take evidence on tho charges against Mr; Symes—Nos. 3 and 4.

The chairman: Do you wish , these charges to be heard as one?—No, sir. Only, my idea.-is that I, should be ready to go on with the fourth immediately I am finished with the third.. '. Charge Against the Government. • Will you give us the order inwhioh you desire to liavo the other charges? r-It is quite immaterial about the' other charges.- J propose to give the chairman a list of witnesses I propose should bo called. But there is another charge Mr. Hme desires to make. ■ | ■ Mr.: Hine then read the following fresh charge,, stating that there would probably be further charges before the committee finished its work:— . ■ , "That ill. or about the year 1904 the Government having taken steps to acquire compulsorily the property known as-the Flaxbourne Estate, . and appointed a member -of .the'. . Legislature, to. wit, Thomas Keniiedy. Macdonald, 'a member of the Legislative Council, as their assessor, and knowing or believing that by reason of his being a member of tho Legislature,, the said Thomas Kennedy Macdonald could not be. ■ paid any remuneration for so acting as assessor, sent the then partner of the said Thomas Kennedy Macdonald, one Alexander Lorimer AYil- ' soil, to make a .'casual inspection of the said property, and paid him an exceptional and wholly extrava- . gaut fee therefor, with the intent or object;-.pf indirectly remunerating the said Thomas Kennedy Macdonald or-his partner or firm'for the services of the said Thomas Kennedy Macdonald, as such assessor, as aforesaid.". Prime Minister seehs Information,. Mr.'Massey: Is that a charge against the Hon. T. K. Macdonald? —I do not think it is. The Chairman"; If it is against Mr. Macdonald— Mr. Hine: I look upon it as a charge against the Government. ■ , Tho' Chairman: Do you prefer it as a charge. against the Government? Mr. Hine: Yes. . Mr. A. M. Myers: In what district is the Flaxbourne Estate? Tho Chairman: In Marlborough. Sir Joseph Ward: I would like Mr. Hine to state, for the information of the committee • in- connection with tho charges he has already' made, who is the .member who is stated to have accepted a sum of money, running into four figures? Mr. M. Myers: Mr. Kaihau. Sir Joseph Ward: I would also ask Mr. Hine what the newspaper is that is referred to in one of- the charges. Mr. M. Myers: We will bring our evidence in due course about that. Sir Joseph: I want to know to bring a witness. / ' ' Mr. Hine:' It is the Stratford "Evening l'os't." Sir Joseph Ward: Who was the editor .then? Mr. Hine: Mr. Copping. Mr. M. Myers said he would suggest that he should give the chairman the list of witnesses he desired to call, and that the committee should summons them. Ho assumed it would be the wish of the committeo that all witnesses should be sworn. ' On, tho motion of Sir Joseph Ward it was then resolved that-Charge No. 3 (against Mr. Symes) bo heard on Tuesday next. ' Other Matters. Mr. M. Myers was proceeding to raise the question, of witnesses' expenses when Sir Joseph Ward said that in his opinion the witnesses should bo paid. Mr. Myers: I am obliged to the Prime Minister for that. I take it the committee generally is of tho same opinion. Mr. Myers proceeded to say it would save considerable timo if lie was given facilities to examine particular files prior to calling witnesses. It would also save a considerable amount in tho way of witnesses' expenses. Ho would furnish a list of the files he wanted to tho chairman. Further replying to the chairman. Mr. Myers said he would require all Departmental files of any Department relating to the purchase of the parties

lar estates mentioned in the charges. He would also require the Treasury vouchors and all imprest vouchers, and all Native Land Court flics'in respect to the To Akau Block. He would also require the production of the ' petitions. It was then resolved, on the motion of Sir Joseph Ward, that the evidence should be. taken on oath, and the committee adjourned till 10 a.m. on Tuesday next. The committee will sit on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday next week. ALLEGED BREACH OF PRIVILECE. MOTION BY THE PRIME . ( MINISTER. The/complaint V.. of- the Legislative Council that the message to it from the House .of Representatives containing the charge brought by Mr. Hine against the Hon. T. K. Macdonald, M.L.C., involved a breach of privilege was referred to in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. The Prime Minister moved as . follows:—" "That, this House admits that a breach of privilege has been committed by Mr.'Hine in preferring a charge against a member of the Legislative Council, - but such breach, of; privilege was'committed by inadvertence, as the charge was made before a Select Committee of , the House, and upon the commit- : tee reporting to the House it was referred to the Legislative Council.". Asked by the Prime Minister whether in ; his opinion a' breaeh of privilege had been committed, Mr. Speaker .said that, it was a breach of privilege for any member to comment in a derogatory manner or make a charge in regard to a member of tlie other House. Mr. ■ Massey suggested. that the matter should be deferred to enable authorities to.be looked up. • It would, he added, be a capital subject to discuss on'Moriday,' "for" he had noticed that only, unimportant 'subjects were dealt with, on, that ,day. Sir Joseph: I would be quits willing to have tKe, second'heading of the Land Bill taken on Monday.. . After leave, had been granted to Mr. Hine to appear before the committee of the Legislative Council which is to hear the charge .against the Hon. T.K-. MacDonald, further discussion on the .point : was i deferred. ■ '

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S ACTION.

' The Select ■ Committee appointed by the Legislative Council to investigate the charges made: by Mr. Hine 'against the Hon. T. :K. • Macdonald met yesterday morning.' The-first business was the • election of'a-chairman, the Hon. J. B. Cullan being appointed. to the position.- 'It was. resolved 'thai both parties should be allowed to be represented by counsel: It, was also decided that if possible'the sittings of the committee should take place at night, bo 'as to" enable the inquiry to progress stage by stage with ■ the ■ investigations by the Committee of the House of .Representatives, and generally to expedite the business."Tho calling of the next meeting was left in the bandß of the chairman. The proceedings of the committee will be open to the press, and at its discretion the committee .will admit outsiders during the hearing of evidence.