THE HINE CHARGES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9361, 9 November 1910, Page 5

THE HINE CHARGES.

MR W. T. JENNINGS, M.P., GIVES

EVIDENCE

THE .STRATFORD POST AFFAIR

(Peb Pbess Association.)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 9. The Hine Committee of the Lower House resumed this morning.

W. T. Jennings, member for Taumarunui, said in 1905 he represented Egrnont, which included the suburbs of Stratford. He did not remember having seen the original of the letter from Symes to McCluggage before, and was certain he did not .take the letter to Sir Joseph Ward. Witness only asked Sir Joseph to give the Stratford paper fetir consideration; He: certainly did not try to bring any influence to bear. Replying to Mr Myers, witness said he would not himself write a letter like Symes wrote to McCluggage, which was an improper action for a member. Hine had quoted the letter in his election campaign at Stratford and Inglewood. Generally .speaking, in witness's opinion, the same conditions should pertain to Parliament as to local bodies re disqualification. Replying to Sir Joseph Ward, witness said he was aware the Government could not buy an estate at a higher price than recommended by the Land Purchase Board. _He considered it a dishonourable action to use a private and confidential letter in an electioii campaign. He considered the letter from Symes was private and confidential. W.; H. Atack, manage"? of the Press Association, was the next witness.

Sir _ Joseph Ward asked whether the Association enjoyed any rights. Mr Myers and several members of the committee objected to this as irre- , levant, but the .Chairman ruled in Sir Joseph Ward's favour. The latter mentioned, as an instance of what he meant, the copyright law. Witnees said it did not cover New Zealand telegrams. In reply to further questions, he said only recognised agents of the Press Association were allowed to send telegrams in its name.

Sir Joseph Ward read a long: telegram which has figured in these proceedings and appeared under the heading, Press Association, in a Taranaki. paper. Witness said so far ae he knew it was not sent by the Press Association, but was wrongly attributed to it. Hβ desired to say the statement made by a former w#ne3S, that it had appeared in a number of papers,' appeared to be incorrect, as it could not be found in others. The Association's instructions to its agents were that no message of a partisan character must be sent, and telegrams must be confined to facts. He had written to the Taranaki News asking them on what ground the message was published under the Association's heading, but had not received a reply.. These headings were kept standing in type, and probably a wrong one slipped in by mistake. Sir Joseph' Ward notified that he wished to call the Hon. "Carncross and McCluggage. Mr Reid asked that a return be furnished showing the names of members of Parliament who as land agents had approached the Government with a view to the purchase of estates. The Committee considered this a matter for deliberation. Further consideration of the bymes charges was postponed, as some witnesses were unable to be present. THE CHARGES AGAINST KAIHAU. WELLINGTON, Nov. &. The charges against Kaihau of receiving commission for the sale of the Te-, akau block and receiving payments for petitions was taken to-day. Mr Myers intimated that there would be six separate charges re the petitions, and he would confine his case to these. Mr Kensington, Under-Secretary for Lands, detailed the negotiations for the purchase of the Teakau block m January, 1907. Hon. J. Carroll sent witness a copy of a deed between the natives and Kaihau requesting the Government to pay him 10 per cent of the purchase money. Both Hon. Carroll and witness declined to acknowledge this deed, and witness notified the Land Purchase officer that negotiations were not to be conducted through Kaihau, as the native owners objected to his presence in the matter. Money for the purchase wae paid to the vendors direct. Kaihau had no standing in the transactions between the Department amd the natives. The Committee, after deciding not to accept any further charges after Friday's sitting, adjourned.