MR. HINE'S CHARGES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 932, 27 September 1910, Page 4

MR. HINE'S CHARGES.

LEADER-' OF THE OPPOSITION'S " VIEWS. ■ Although the- Prime Minister is asking Parliament. to refer Mr; Hine's charges of "Taramanyism" against, certain members and ex-members of the, Legislature, to; tlie Lands Committee, it is not quite' clear that ■ that > committee will be; ablo to' clear up the matter. . Aoting ;on : the assumption 'that the Lands .. Committee might bo .influenced- by -party considerations, Mr; Hine will, it is"stated,'.refuse, even if the Prime' Minister's, motion is carried,\to .submit I the names of.-the persons lie accuses, or to give, evidenoe. -His decision is unanimouslyendorsed by tho Opposition. .• • .' " " .'.■-I think Mr. Hine ; would be vera foolish, to go before a committee consisting of' seven Government' supporters three Oppositionists On a question which,is sur6 i to resolve. itself into a purely; party matter," Mr. Massey remarked to. a. Dominion representative. T&hv Hine : has done : the fair and" straightforward thing' in offering. ..to'.'submit.-' his to a commission' consisting ; of two judges of: the Supreme Court, and if ho is not able to prove his charges . ho V will tak6 the;' consequences and pay;all expanses. That is surely a fair position to take' up.. 'I . have ..seen one or"fwo. of these- inquiries by Parliamentary . Committees,-, and I • have never seen anything , .satisfactory coine • from such an: inquiry, where. . party interest*, were likely to.be, affected: one way or another."; . , : 'If Sir. Hine refuses to give evidencs before tho c6mmitt6e, he may'be reported to• the House, and;the House, by a-ma-jority -vote, may., fine ;him. -. There-are, however, very, few; precedents for such a 'course ' of' action. - '". .The. House has : no other .means' of compelling a member to give oWdence before a conijnittee.. -