MR HINE AGAIN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15862, 27 February 1912, Page 7

MR HINE AGAIN.

CHARGE OF MISREPRESENTATION. QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, February 28. “ I will read a telegram I have received,” (said Mr Laurenson in the House to-night. “It is'a four-page telegram, and I will not read extracts from it or scribble out a copy with the names blank. It is a clear and definite charge respecting a Taranaki member, and I will lay it on the table. I received it at 8.15 p.m. from a man I do not know. It is as follows: ' Pohakura.—Laurenson, M.P., Wellington.—ln view of the statement made in the House by leaders of the Opposition that they had nothing to do with the wild and reckless statements and misrepresentations made against Sir Joseph Ward during last election, will you please ask our member, Mr J. B. Hine, in the House*, why he told us in his address at Thirty-threo Milo. Siding the night before the election that Sir Joseph Ward had not given particulars of £120,000 out- of the five million loan, and how does he reconcile this statement with his party denial? If Mr Hine believes this to be true ho should ask. for another inquiry and prove it, otherwise lie should resign his seat and retire from public life for making such malicious charges against public men where no Press reporters wore present.—D. Wildermoth, Paliakura. “ Let me point out how suspicion can be created by these statements,” Mr Laurenson added. “ Tho leader of the Opposition has said that the Opposition ooliev was one of honesty and the Government policy one of humbug, or rather, he would say hypocrisy. Now, when I hear a man boasting of his honesty I generallv find him a rogue. I don’t like this pharasaical thumping of tho chest and telling what an honest man he is. In another place Mr Massey says: ! I will say if I get on the Treasury benches there will he no thieving go’ing on.’ ” “ What is tho inference 7”. Mr Laurenson asked. “ That thieving is now _ going on. ‘ Give us a chance,’ says Mr Massey, ‘ and we will be honest in our administration.’ ”