TAMMANYISMI

Evening Star, Issue 14526, 30 November 1910, Page 4

TAMMANYISMI

THE HINE ALLEGATIONS. WARM DEBATEMN PARLIAMENT. RESOLUTION REGARDING MU KAIHAU. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, November 30. When tho House of Representatives entered on a debate on tho Hine Committee’s repeat at 12.30 this morning, The Prime Minister intimated that it was Iris intention to move at a later stage a motion dealing with Air Kaihau. Air Allen: What will be tho nature of your motion? The Leader of tho Opposition said that while some people had at, first declined that tho member for Stratford was ill-advised in rooking his charges, that opinion had now been almost unanimously changed. Tho recommendation of tho Hine Committee clearly indicated that there had been wrong-doing, and ono of Die. most important results of Die inquiry was tho recommendation that special legislation should bo passed to prevent such improper acts taking piaco in Die future. In older countries the principal duty of a, member was legislation. Here tho conditions wero different. It was essential that the honor and integrity of Parliament should ho maintained. Guo of tho matters ho desired first to deal with was tho letter font by Air Symes to Air APG’iuggage regarding Government advertising. The finding of Die Committee was an extraordinary one. The Committee found that Dio charge of threat was not established. Ninety-nine people out of every hundred who had read that letter know that, Air Symes had threatened that unless he got the support of tho paper it would not got Government advertising. Tho letter was a corrupt practice, and Die witter would have been punished bad it not been for the generosity of his political opponents at Dip- time. Mr Massey read a letter from Afr H. J). Beil, whoso advice was asked at the time, and who declared that the letter, in Jus opinion, would convict Mr Symes of cor rupt practices, and upset Dio election, if need be. Air Massey went on to say that bo disagreed with Die finding in regard to the Flaxboumo case. He surveyed the evidence. The, finding of the Committee in Dio rioxboarno ease was like the old Scottish verdict: “Not proven; don t do it agam.” Dealing with the charges against Air Kaihau in regard t-6 the To Akau purchase, Air Massey said the facts disclosed some of Dio strangest happenings in Dm history of this country, and proceeded to delve into the question of the purchase of the To Akau block. _ In Iris opinion. Die whole of the transactions went to make up one of the most dishonest incidents m lire history of tho country. —The Premier in Reply : Attacking a Dead Alan. — Sir Joseph Ward followed, and reminded the House that, ho bad again and again tried to get tho member for Stratford to make specific charges. All Dial- Air Hine would do was to talk about Tummanyism and cast reflections upon the Government. Then, when finally forced to state definite charges, Mr Hine made allegations with regard l-o different land transactions, ail of which dealt with the administration of the late Hon. R. J. Seddon. These charges wen; fought while tho administrator concerned was in his grave. Mr Alassey; Tour speech is worthy of you. Sir Joseph Ward: There was not one single charge made or proved against this Government or their adnriirisl-ration, look at (lie matter as impartially as you like. If the member for Stratford intended that bis charges of Tammanyism wero to apply to tho past, why did bo net say so? Every one of the charges mado was connected with Die administration of a man who is dead and gone. The Prime Mini.ster then proceeded to read a telegram received from Air R. P. Gribble, district surveyor, now at Karinui, who stated Diet in regard to the Flaxbounie case the evidence of Air Griffin given before Die lime Committee wins in many cases quite inaccurate and unreliable, A further statement from a Air Al’Galhun on tho subA Alemher: AVbo is Air APCallmn? Hen. R. MTvcpzie: He is the gentleman the Leader of the Opposition wants to bring out for Waikato next election. , Tho Prime Alinister went on to further criticise the action of the Opposition in forcing on these chargee, when they affected thrf administration of a dead man. Air Massey: Don't yon shelter behind a dead man now. Sir Joseph Ward (wannly) : I am not sheltering behind a dead man. I say now that during (ho whole- of the time 1 knew the late Air (hidden he was nc\cr guilty of a wrong or a mean action. T am not sheltering behind him; I am defending bis memory against a cuiel _ attack. In order to cover up Die cowardice and contemptihility attaching to an attack on a dead man side issues aio now to be dragged in. What is the reason of it? Air Laurensou : To get at this Government of yours. ■Sir Joseph Ward: Area, all this innuendo and reflection is aimed at the detriment of the present legislation. The. whole thing happened seven years ago, long before the present- Government conus into office. Throughout Dio whole of the evidence there was absolutely noDring against the present Government before tho Committee. Air Myers: Afr Hino’s solicitor admitted that tho charges were against Dio ■Seddon Government, and the Sodden Government only. Sir Joseph added that ho did not approve any mcmlier receiving payment for services which might directly or indirectly have relation to his parliamentary duties, but no ono could say that the Administration of the day was responsible for individual impropriety of the kind. Inter it would be hir. unpleasant duty to introduce a resolution dealing with‘the action of the member for Western Alaori District,. —“ Humbug !” Mr Allen said the Prime Minister's speech was humbug. Afr Hine had established charges of Tanunanyism as Air Hine had defined the term in tho House. —Strong Criticism,— iho Hon. J. A. Alillar characterised Die use of the Symes letter by tho Opposition at the last election as equivalent to the lowest American methods, and referred to the member’s “ political birth being cradled in inlamy” and "associated with a purloined letter. Mr T. K. Taylor said that no doubt Afr ■Symes bad acted improperly, and ho bad been dishonored by bis constituents. As far as Air Kaihau was concerned tlie mom her for Christchurch North believed h* should be called upon to resign. Air lfino ; bo said, bad been nurtured on political prejudices ; he had seen few men and many cattle. —(lain g liter.) His education poh*" tic-ally had been a purely lo;>sided one. Mr Russell also spoke at some length. The debate was then adjourned,, and the House rose at 4.10 a.m. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. [Pku United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 30. Mv Allen moved as an amendment to tho motion for the adoption of the Hine Committee's report that it lie agreed to except so far as it referred to To Akau am! Flaxbounie Estates and the, letter from Mr Symes to Air MTmggage. Ho held thar, the letter constituted a threat. Ho contended that there was unquestionable evidence that Air Kaiban bad taken £2.000 for conducting the sale to the Crown, £SOO of which went to pay the costs of bis counsel. In Iris opinion tho To Akau sate was not a clean transaction". In Die Flaxbourne case there was no evidence to show that tho Hon. I’. Kennedy Macdonald got a share of the £565 (laid to Mr Wilton, liis partner, but the latter's evidence, was far from satisfactory. Tho Hon. J. A. Millar said that some of the Opposition members had got into tho House by means of a purloined letter, which was as ugly an instance as lie could i remember in pujilic life. It was admitted I by Air Hine's counsel that there was no charge against the present Government, I and the evidence showed, that-their ad- !

ministration was untainted by Tammanyism. Ho replied to Mr Alien’s remarks re Mr Kaihau. The latter had worked for his tribe in various courts, and it was for that he received payment. Air Hine could not get a complete verdict from cither tho Home or tho country. Mr T. E. Taylor deprecated the idea that a dead man’s name should not be mentioned. Ho accused Mr Massey of slandering tho House by saying that members wero becoming loose in their ideas of parliamentary dutv. As to Mr Symes, ho had no doubt that lie was prepared to do a corrupt ad,ion, but could not, get tho necessary partner. Air Kaihau should bo called on to resign. Ho asked if some member of the Executive had not benefited by Die To Akau transaction. The net result of the charges .wu» to s ''ow that no Legislative Assembly was cleaner thanouts. Mr Taylor ;iiso alluded in strong terms to tho pamphlet published about the Prime Minister. , . Air A lass oy replied to Air Taylor, claimin'' that seven out of the ten charges were proved, ajid hiul ilifi Committee haeed tlieir finding on tho evidence all ten would have been proved, lie denied that any incmbei of the- Opposition was responsible for tnc pamphlet referred to. He asked Mr laylor if hifi| hands were dear..' Afr Taylor: Absolutely. Air Massey went on to say that he was rd/id In' had "nothing to do with the TaylorScddcii" lawsuit,, but if be was free to say uhat lie knew lie would make Mr lay or vcvv sorry. Mr Taylor said he could ray what ho liked. Mr AI assay rejoined that otuer.s vieie concerned, and wont on to criticise Mr Millar’s speech, and to challenge the accuracy of iris figures in regard to tho values of estates taken by the Government. At- 4.7 a.m. the debate was adjourned till 2.30 n.m.