MR. HINE'S CHANGES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 990, 3 December 1910, Page 5

MR. HINE'S CHANGES.

/ "4 ;— !■ ' ' . IDR. FINDLAY'S RECENT CRITICISM. SPIRITED REPLY BY MR. MASSEY. Speaking to a Dojicaox reporter yesterday, Mr. Massoy (Leader of tho Opposition) said, in reference to Dr. Find- : lay's criticism iu the Legislative Council in regard to the Hino charges, that' he regretted exceedingly that Dr. Findlay so far forgot himself as to take advantage of his position in the Legislative Council to make the very bitter, and grossly unfair attack on Mr. Hine which was reported in the newspapers of that day. Dr. Findlay said that' "Mr. Hine stands convictcd of hypo- - crisy, not only by his conduct, but his . ; words. He began the inquiry by disavowing imputation against Mr. Scd- v > don, and then through his lawyer pro-. v r ' ceedeil to cast as much suspicion on ::1< r him or rather his memory as ho indi' j: rectly could." There was only one way ! of dealing with such a statement, and- [ that was by saying at once that it is- ; contrary to fact. Dr. Findlay was evidently smarting over the disclosures that had been made in the Hine inquiry. Ho (Mr. Masse?) supposed one must make allowances for a very angry ■ V " individual, but he could not be per-' -• mitted to slander an honest and con- < scientious man as Mr. Hine undoubtr t edly was. By calling public attentionto the irregularities and improper prac- • ticcs which formed tho subject of in- ' quiry- by a. Parliamentary Committee, ' Mr. Hino had done good service to the country, and why Dr. Findlay should.; be so perturbed about it lie conld not ' imagine. In the calm and peaceful atmosphere of the Upper Chamber the > hon. gentleman should be ablo to avoid the use of strong language such as ha • ; ' ■ l used when he accused Mr. Hine of hy- ' V: • pocrisy. ' ;;' In another part of his speech Dr. ■' a Findlay said that "Mr. Hine's counsel I cast as much suspicion on Mr. Soddon's memory as no indirectly could." ; [ This was just as correct as the first 'j statement. Mr. Hine's counsel and the j. Opposition members tried in every poss sibfo' way to keep Mr. Seddon's name " out of the inquiry, even- going tho. length of moving, to striko such refer- . .J ences out ; but Mr. Seddon's name was [_ dragged in repeatedly by Dr. Findlay; n when he was giving evidence and by v ' the representatives of tho Government, V s who were members of the committee. ; ~ Ho was sorry to have to say so, but he considered the action of Ministers in this respect unmanly and improper, ,j and he was using r the mildest terma possible. Their object was only too evi(j dent, and tho public would understand;" : ; In conclusion. Mr. Massey advised Dr. , 0 Findlay to read, mark, learn, and in-i ' wardly digest a verse of the seventh; • 0 chapter of St. Matthew, which the new j' law of libel, however appears to render' it undesirablo to place on record. in MR. HINE'S COUNSEL IN REPLY, - ;d ' ■ —— . . . ' ' : y ■".WHO'IS THE WAGONER." n ■ . . . ... t s [To tho Editor.] ; ' r- Sir, —May I ask the privilege of 3 Vportion of your space in to-day's issue. Dr. Findlay is reported to have said . . ;; ■ y in his speech upon the motion for the' Ee adoption by the Legislative Council of nt tho report of tho committee that in- : . t. vestigated tho charge made by Mr. Hingj jd against the Hon. T. K." Macdonald: —- 2d "When the inquiry before the d- Legislative Council Committee be- ™ gan, Mr. Hine's counsel expressly. W repudiated, on 1 Mr.' Hine's behalf, " y. any charge or imputation against ur any member of the Government in by- office at the time, or 'any officer of u - tho Government. . . . Let anyone: er go through the long scries of questions put to Mr. Barron, for ex■J ample, by Mr. Hine's counsel; let . Id ' him ask himself what possible purpose they served if they were not • '; as aimed at the late Mr. Seddon'fl character...." ' r _ At the inquiry counsel were not . , ir mitted to make any addresses, but I\.. w endeavoured during the course of tho[ y inquiry to define clearly Mr. Hine's ob-| i, jeet: From first to last, I never heardj ;• ••: 10 from Mr. Hine or any of his friends tor e _ whom I spoke, any suggestion of at-;' [g tack, insinuation, or reflection upon the .- - late Mr. Seddon's personal character or. j n honour. The first suggestion of any ro such attack came from Dr. Findlay him-- ' self during the inquiry. lat once re-, pudiated any such suggestion. All the . questions that Mr. Barron and tho other. witnesses were asked were relevant and< ct proper. _ ' . 'Mr. Hine's case, was, in short, so far , . <j! as the purchase of the Nai Nai and Love . ostites were concerned, that, assuming the perfect good faith of. the Minister in charge (whoever he might be) andof the members of the Land Purchase Board, it is not-right to allow members/ ot of tho Legislature to conduct, sales of-.'. of estates to v the Government for remuns- eration, inasmuch as a member of the-' n- Legislature, by reason of the mere factj er that he is a member; is likely to exert' ni upon Ministers and Government offi-.. ;n cials, quite unconsciously, if you liko, so' id far as Ministers'and, officials are con--m cerned, an influence that other persons m are unable to exercise. Ido not desire ct to discuss the merits of any of the; of charges, but I do desire to say that it ■ es was necessary to go through the files - ?d and ascertain the circumstances; in all ry tho cases before the committees of both : / ig the Council and tho HouSo ' :1s of Representatives, in order to enable as the committees to see whether Mr.' Hine's contention was sound. There , - wa3 no necessity to suggest, for this. : purpose, any reflection upon the late Mr. Seddon or any member of the Min- ' istry or of the Land Purchase Board; ■ and no such reflection was ever contemplated. _ . . " ' That Mr. Hine's contention is sound " - has been admitted by the Committee.' ?; of tho House of Representatives,; and it. by the House itself, by the resolution - . ■ that legislation is desirable to moot tho case. Dr. Findlay says, " 'Hitch your wagon' ;s . to a lie' is the method of some politi-'..'. a _ cians." lam not interested in-what , Dr. Findlay may say of politicians. 6 But I do resent his reflection upon''Mr.; Hine's counsel" in a speech niade at a.... time'and in a placo where •no answer, of could bo possible. My position and a £ Mr. Hine's was explained, to the committee when Dr. Findlay was present;, ;. ' !r ~ and what Dr. Findlay's object can be 110 in continuing, his references to "Mr. . ' n- Hino's counsel" lamat a loss to under- -' . stand. He has made his attack, and- 11.I 1 . ' have now replied. lam content to' leave tho public to judge who is "tho • es wagoner" on this occasion.—l am, etc., . :I fs ' M. 3IYERS. au December 2. in • — —