THE HINE CHARGES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9360, 8 November 1910, Page 5

THE HINE CHARGES.

WALTER SYMES EXPLAINS. "ONLY CHARGED COLLECTION FEE." £Peb Pbesb Abbociation.l WELLINGTON, Nov. 8. The Hine Committee _ of the Lower House resumed this morning. •Fred Bayly stated that ho sold the Glandon estate through'. Major ■to the Government. Major was the only agearit authorised to sell this -property. Witness suggested, to Major that the Government might acquire the property. Witness considered the property -was now worth £15 to £18 an acre.. .• /

The Chairman said.,.-he'., noticed, that witnesses,* after • giving evidence, had written to f the press : pn the subject, which constituted a breach. oi. privilege. Walter Symes said that for the past twelve years he had been in business as a. general agent at Stratford, and had. been member for Parliament from' 1896 to 1908. He was one of the first West Coast lessees, dating back to 1874, both individually and.with his brother. Witness then detailed the progress of the dispute over the leases culminating in the Appeal 'Court's decision in favour-of the lessees. ■ Before becoming member he personally went to considerable expense in advancing the claims of the lessees for compensation and in contesting a test case in the Supreme Court. After becoming member he was asked by the .lessees to present a petition asking for compensation for expenses incurred in litigation. Witness got the petition drafted and typed at hie own expense,, and presented it in 1905. He then devoted considerable time in acquiring information in support of the petition, .which, however, was not favourably recommended by the Parliamentary Committee. Witness had omitted two or three important facts, and after the report had been referred back to the Committee these proved sufficient to'induce the Committee to make a favourable recommendation, and £2000 was! placed on- the supplementary estimates for compensa* t-ion. Then some lessees outside witness's electorate who had been omitted from the petition asked his assistance. Witness replied, stating what he had done he had done as a member, and advised them to get the services of their own member. If, however, they wished witness to collect their money he expected to be paid for doing so. Witness had not charged commission ,to any of his own constituents. The fee witness charg,ed hvas only a collection fee of 5 per cent.