THE HINE CHARGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 173, 1 November 1910, Page 5

THE HINE CHARGES.

! MR. HINE MAY NOT GIVE EVIDENCE. PRELIMINARY SKIRMISH 15Y COUNSEL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Hine Committee of the Legislative Council met this evening. Mr. Myers, who appeared for Mr. J. B. Hine, asked for an adjournment. He said he was prepared to proceed on any other night this week. Mr. Skerret't, K.C., who with Mr. Sharp appeared lor the Hon. T. K. Mac Donald, wished to proceed straight away, considering it would be treating the Ho:i. Mac Donald with scant courtesy not to proceed immediately. Mr. Myers said he understood from the chairman (Hon. J. B. Callan) thai, all that would be considered at this meeting was the question of subpoenaing witnesses and paying of expenses. Dr. Findlay suggested that Mr. Hine should give his evidence at this meeting, to which Mr. Myers replied that probably Mr. Hine would not give evidence, but would reply on his witnesses to prove his allegations. He would call evidence regarding the sale of Leigh's Nainai property and Love's Waiwetu estate to the Government by the Hon. Mac Donald's firm at very high prices! Mr. Hine considering it wrong for members of either House to act as agents or to receive remuneration for sales to the Crown. He suggested no collusion or impropriety against the Government in these two charges. Dr. Findlay suggested that Mr. Skerrett would probably admit the actual sale of land, so probably the only question before the committee would be one of ethics.

The Hon. J. Rigg suggested that Mr. Hine should give evidence, so that the committee could see what they were to adjudicate upon. Mr. Skerrett said that if Mr. Myers did not call Mr. Hine, he would do so. Mr. Myers had said that the property was sold at too high a price, but afterwards disavowed any suggestion of collusion between the Hon. Mac Donald and the Government. Counsel did not propose to say anything about the ethics of the charge, that being the committee's, function. The general question was whether a land agent or lawyer should bebarred, by virture of his position as a member, from practising his profession in dealing with the Government. The chairman said the committee had decided that all that was necessary for' counsel to do was to examine, crossexamine and re-examine witnesses, and not to address the committee.

The committee then adjourned till tomorrow night.