THE HINE CHARGES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 113, 9 November 1910, Page 3

THE HINE CHARGES.

CONCLUSION OF THE SYMES CASE. FINAL CROSS-EXAMINATION. The hearing of the charges preferrod against Walter Symes, ex-M.P., by Mr. Sine, member for Stratford, was concluded last evening before the committee appointed by the Lower House. In reply to Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. Symes said he had never acted as Whip for the Government. He had never been appointed to such a position. Mr. l\lassey : You are quite sure you never acted as Government Whip? Witness : Never. You never went round to arrange tho pairs ? — Never. I think if you were not going away tumorrow morning I could bring facts to alter your opinion. — Such a position was nover offered to me. I would not hava accepted it if it haJ. How much did your expenses amount to? — I could not say from memory. Much over £300? — I have not got tile foggiest notion. Was it over £300?— 1 could not saj. Do you think it was over £200? — It would be. Do you know that' the limit allowed by law is £200? — Your own personal expenses are not included in election expenses. I think they are. You remom!>ef writing a letter to Mr. M'Cluggage. Did you write to him as a director of tiia paper? — 1 was nob aware of the fact that he was a director when I wrote to him. You say in your letter, "You can show this to the manager." — I was aware that he was a shareholder. Your letter would be official? — Yes. In reply to Mr. Buchanan, witness said he had never asked for anything in the way of commissions from a constituent of his. He would not ask for a commission from people outside his constituency for Parliamentary work. If a statement had been made to Mr. Buchanan that witness had acted temporarily as Government Whip, it was not in accordance with fact. Sir Joseph Ward objected to this question, and asked who had suggested tj Mr. Myers to ask the question in tho fiist instance. Mr. Myers said the Prime Minister had no right to ask him who suggested to him what questions he should ask. A question was' one thing and an insinuation another. He had asked the question on Mr. Hine's behalf, and had accepted the answer. Mr. Skerrett re-examined briefly. Witness said that the Gowers were con stituonts of 'his, but to none of them had he chai'ged a commissionTo the Chairman : He did not ro member the cost of preparing the petition. Could you give us a list of your expenses in carrying on the work?— No, I could not. Proceeding, he denied that he accepted tho £300 for payment for services rendored. He and Alf Bayly were like brothers — in fact, he knew the late Mr. Bayly better than some, of his own bi others. He denied that he had at any time charged a constituent of his for payment for services rendered. Answering a question by Sir Joseph Ward, witness said ho had given no authority to anyone to make use of a letter which he had written to Mr. Joseph M'Cluggage, and in which the words "private and confidential" ap peared in the body. To Mr. Massey : ' He said that in many cases the vouchers for the collection of money were sent to him with authority to give a receipt. He still thought 5 per cent, was a fair charge for such work. He would treat the Government the same as anybody else. This concluded the hearing of the case.