THE NINE CHARGES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 912, 1 November 1910, Page 3

THE NINE CHARGES.

Wellington, Oct. 31

The Hine Committee of the Legislative Council met last evening.

Mr Myers, counsel for Mr Hine, asked for an adjournment. He said he would be prepared to proceed on any other night this week. Mr Skerrett, K.C., who with Mr Sharp appeared for the Hon. T. K. Macdonald, wished to proceed straightaway, considering it would be treating the Hon. Mr Macdonald with scant courtesy not to proceed immediately.

Mr Myers said he understood from the chairman (Hon. Mr Callau) that all that would he considered at this meeting was the question of subpoeuiug witnesses and the paying of expenses. The Attorney General, Hon. 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 rely on his witnesses to prove his allegations. He would call evidence regarding the sale of Mr Leigh’s Nainai property and Mr Love’s Waiwetu estate to the Government by the Hon. T. Macdonald’s firm at very high prices. Mr Hine, considering it wrong for members of either House to act as agents or receive remuneration for sales to the Crown. He suggested no collusion or impropriety against the Government in these two charges. The Hon. Dr. Findlay suggested that Mr Skerrett would probably admit the actual sale of the land, so probably the only question before the Committee would be one of ethics.

The Hon. Mr Rigg suggested ; that Mr Hine should give evidence ; so that the Committee could see i what they were to adjudicate j upon. Mr Skerrett said 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 I Mr Macdonald 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 laud agent or lawyer should be j barred by virtue of his* position, as j a member of Parliament Irom | practising his profession in dealing j with the Government. I The chairman said the test was { for the Committee to decide. All I it was necessary for counsel to do j was to examine, cross-examine, ! and re-examine witnesses, and not to address the Committee. The | committee then adjourned till tomorrow night.