MR. MINE’S CHARGES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14347, 27 October 1910, Page 2

MR. MINE’S CHARGES.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS’ POSITION. DIGNITY OF THE COUNCIL. (By Our Parliamentary Reporter.) When the Legislative Council met at 2.30 o’clock this afternoon the Attor-ney-General referred to the message which had been received from the House of Representatives conveying the charge made against the Hon. T. IC. MacDonald by Mr. Hine as follows: “That Thomas Kennedy MacDonald, in or about the year 1904 and subsequent years, while a member of the Legislative Council, either alone or in conjunction with his then partner, a land agent, conducted the sale to the Government of the property of oho John Motley Leigh, at Nai Nui, and the properties of other persons, and received from the said John Motley Leigh and the vendors of such other properties commissions or other sums ol money; or, alternatively, the said Thomas Kennedy MacDonald and his said partner received the said commissions or other sums and divided the same.”

Ho intended to move that the message should be referred to a Committee of Privilege. Ho proposed to show that charges by one member of another Chamber against a member of another Chamber were unconstitutional, and a breach of privilege, otherwise there would lx? unseemly proceedings which ivero prevented by the most rigid rule of the British Parliament. The charge should lie resented as an indignity upon the Council itself. This was clearly laid down in May’s Parliamentary Practice. The Council’s own standing order contained a distinct provision against such a practice as he had referred to. It was due to Mr. MacDonald to say that lie had expressed the most urgent desire' to have the charges referred to a Select Committee of the Council. But while they desired to consult his feelings, they had first to consider and uphold the position of tho Council as a whole. He moved that the message from the House containing the charge printed above should be referred to a Committee of Privilege. Mr. Rigg said he agreed with the course proposed to bo taken. It was the duty of the Council to protect - its own dignity. If it was found that a breach of privilege had been committed other steps would have to bo taken, but at the same time the personal aspect of the case should net be delayed. The Council owed a duty to the public as well as to itself, and it would be a bad thing if because of a question of privilege the inquiry was delayed till a later day in the session. The Hon. J. E. Jenkinson approved of Dr. Findlay’s motion. He said his blood boiled when he heard the charge made in the House. It was, to say tho least, annoying to hear tho reflections cast on the Council by members in tho House, often offensive reflections. It was about time it was stopped. He agreed that the second committee, referred to by Mr. Rigg, should be'set up. Tho Council should consider the feelings and desire of the hon. gentleman referred to, and clear away the suspense. The Hon. O. Samuel also thought that no time should be lost in setting up a committee with a view to giving the hon, gentleman a chance to clear himself of the charge made against him. He would deprecate any undue delay in making a full investigation. The Hon. R. A. Louglman hoped no notice would he taken of the reflections cast in the House. Tho Hon. J. T. Paul said that no loophole should he left for any member of the public to suggest that the Council or the Government wore anxious to delay tho hearing of tho charge. Ho agreed with 'the proposal to first refer the matter to a committee of privilege. After some further discussion Dr. Findlay, in the course of his reply, stated that his first duty was to the Council itself. He had intended, however, to have the charge referred to a Committee of Investigation. Tho Committee of Privilege would sit tomorrow morning and report to the Council -in tho afternoon, and a second committee could then be immediately set up to go on with the investigation. .Ho proposed that the Committee of Privilege should consist of the following:—The Hon. tho Speaker Slid tho Hons. Carncross, Sinclair, Jenkinson, C’allan, Ormond, Rigg, Samuel and tho mover. This motion was agreed to unanimously. The committee will report to tho Council to-morrow afternoon.