HINE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 315, 26 November 1910, Page 5

HINE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

[nv Ti:r.K;;KAi'n.—l'iiKss association".] Wellington, This Day. The Hine report was presented to the House after midnight. In the charges against Mr Major, the Committee finds that, as regards the first charge, the evidence taken did not show any breach of any rule of law, but a direct contravention of a resolution of the House agreed to on July 14th, 1886. As regards the second charge it has been discovered, so far as Mr Major is concerned, in the first charge against Mr Symes, finding of the Committee in. although it is satisfied Mr Symes did not influence a sale, it is of opinion it was improper, in the circumstances, for him, being a member of Parliament, to accept a gift of £3OO from Mr Bayly. Upon the second charge, regarding West Coast leases the Committee says, although Mr Symes may have considered he was entitled to charge commission for his services, in connection with the collection of money votecUby Parliament, nevertheless the Committee is of opinion that services in respect of which he received such commission ware so closely connected with the duties of a member of Parliament, as to render the acceptance of any payment irregular and therefore improper. Upon the third charge of threatening the "Stratford Post," the Committee finds the threat as alleged, not established. The letter by him produced to the Committee may possibly be susceptible of such construction, although it may not have been Intended by the writer. Mr Kaihau is acquitted of any breach of law or Parliamentary practice over the Te Akau block purchase, .but in connection with the receipt of a payment for presenting petitions, the Committee is of opinion the receipt of the payments was improper. Upon the last charge against the Government of the day, in connection witn Flaxbourne purchase, the Committee finds A. L. Wilson duly rendered and performed services, and was regularly and properly paid therefor, in accordance with authority for payment certified to by Dr Findlay, counsel for the Crown, and approved of by the late- Mr Seddon. and that such payment was not made with the intent or object of indirectly remunerating the Hon. T. Kennedy Macdonald, either alone or as a partner of the late firm of Macdonald, Wilson and Co.. or remunerating Wilson for services of Macdonald as assessor.

The Hine Committee has passed the following resolution :—l. Referring to the charges against Mr Symes, the Committee desires to express the opinion that it is a matter for regret that a confidential communication written by Mr Symes to Mr McCluggage, which by universal custom, is always treated as private, should have been ignored, and made public by those into whose hands the letter passed. 2. That legislation should be passed making it illegal for a member of Parliament to act on his own behalf, or on behalf of any other person, in negotiating the sale of an estate to the Crown. The minority report, signed by Messrs Massey, Allan, Buchanan and Fraser, stated its dissent from the majority report respecting the Te Akau charge, as in their opinions—(a) Kaihau did agree with the natives to conduct a sale to the Crown of Te Akau block; (b) Kaihau did receive from the vendors £2OOO, which included a commission, for the sale of Te Akau block; and (c) Kaihau's action was in direct contravention of the resolution of the House of July 14th, 1886.