THE HINE CHARGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14511, 27 October 1910, Page 6

THE HINE CHARGES.

A QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S RIGHTS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—•SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. When the Legislative Council met this afternoon a message was received from the House of Representatives, conveying intimation of the charges mude by Mr. Hine against the Hon. T. Kennedy Macdonald, of conducting the sale to the Government of certain property at Nai Nai, and property of other persons, and receiving commission from the vendors. The Attorney-General (Dr. Findlay) pointed out that the message contained a reflection upon a member of the Council, and, as a member of the Council, and not in his private capacity, he would therefore ask that the matter be referred to a committee of privilege. A reflection by a member of one section of the Legislature upon a member of Another- section was clearly unconstitutional, and against the Standing Orders of each Chamber. It was, therefore, a breach of privilege, and such practices, if permitted, would have a result in the highest degree derogatory to the dignity of Parliament. If any member of the House could use the protection given to him to assail the character of a member of the Council, it might lead to reprisals by councillors against the aggressors. He was going to ask the Council to deal with this reflection as an indignity to the Council itself which the latter should take constitutional means of resenting. Hence he proposed to refer the matter to a committee of privilege, and have the privileges of the Council asserted in proper form. It was due to the member assailed to say that he had expressed an urgent desire to have the charge referred to a Select Committee. It would, however, be time to refer to the personal aspect of the question when the dignity of the Council had been upheld. Replying to the Hon. G. Jones (Otago), Dr. Findlay said he was adopting a course already adopted in England. Hons. J. Rigg, J. E. Jenkinson, O. Samuel, and J. T. Paul, urged that the personal charge should be investigated at the earliest moment. It was undesirable that there should be any delay in fully investigating the allegations. The Attorney-General said his duty was to protect the dignity of the Council, which should take precedence over all other interests. It had been his intention all along to ask for a special committee, and he proposed to do so at the earliest possible moment. The Privileges Committee might meet to-morrow morning and report the same afternoon, when a special committee could be set up. The motion to refer the matter to a Privileges Committee was carried, and the following members were appointed thereon: The Speaker (Sir Charles Bowen), and the Hons. W. C. F. Carncross, J, R. Sinclair, O. Samuel, J. Rigg, J. E. Jenkinson, J. B. Callan, J. D. Ormond, and the