MR. HINE'S CHARGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 148, 1 October 1910, Page 4

MR. HINE'S CHARGES.

I Politically, at the present moment, Mr. Hine is a weariness of the flesh and an unnecessary expense to the people of New 'Zealand. When he threw down the gauntlet and charged the Government with "Tammanyism" the Government wias aware that Mr. Hine did not know i wliat the term meant, but <tihe House spent some hundreds of pounds in discussing th« (matter—for Parliament is' a 1 wry expensive institution. The careful man, who examines Mr. nine's statements feels, after such an examination, that Mr. Hine "didn't know they were loaded." In the matter of "his charges against unnamed memliers of the House for taking secret lommbsioas, lie poi-

sibly thought that, when he had fired his unsatisfactory shot, it would not cause the hubbub that resulted* Mr. Hine, as a Parliamentarian, is protected. He could l have named the members against whom the allegations were levelled -without hurt to himself. If the average newspaper was protected in the same way as Mr. Hine, it- would 'have named' the -members immediately. There are many members of lViliiiment who would have considered it- their duty to make such allegations definite. But Mr. Hine is a niggled democrat of another sort. He refuses to substantiate 'his 'allegations in the only reasonable an.! simple way, and while unwilling to diisclose 'his precious secret to tihe highest court in the land, consents to Whisper it in a more expensive and oircumuloouitory way to judges of the Supreme Court. Why two judges of the Supreme Court should he switched from their already heavy duties to be bored to diceitb with a statement that 'could and should 'be made in two minutes is beyond the comprehension of any man. As it is the Lands Committee will investigate Mr. Bine's emasculated charges, which do not, as amended, make any allegations against the Government of "Tamimanyisnt." . iS® the Supreme Court judges will not he bored after all, ami Mr. Hine may still refuse to give evidence before the Lands Committee, and the names may not be disclosed. Mr. Nine's possible idea, in making his charges against members or ex-members of Parliament that lie was attacking an evil, repetitions of which should not lb® permitted. This was simplicity itself, but Air. Hine hesitated ait the open doorj and remains at the threshold now, very probably "sorry ;hc spoke."