THE HINE CHARGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 169, 26 October 1910, Page 8

THE HINE CHARGES.

THE JCBGES DECLINE THE COMMISSION'. MORE DELAY~JX THE MATTER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives today Sir Joseph Ward read the letter forwarded to the Chief Justice setting forth the charges formulated by Mr. J. 11. 1 line, M.l'., and asking him to nominate two Judges to investigate and report on the charges. The Chief Justice, in his reply, said that, assuming the charges are true, they do not come within the provisions of the Legislature Act, 1!)0S. None of the charges are charges of corruption, although a charge is one of improper conduct. The Court of Appeal had decided in 11)0!) that a Royal Commission to investigate whether crime has or has not been committed was illegal, and that the appointment of such commission to investigate an action that was not illegal would be to create a new offence, and would be void. If a member has acted in any way derogatory to his membership, Parliament alone should deal with liim. On these grounds he hoped the House would withdraw its request for the Judges to investigate the charges. The Chief Justice states that his brother Judges approve his reply to the Premier's letter.

The Premier said he proposed to ask the House to agree to the following a (1) That a message be sent to the Speaker, conveying the information that a charge has been made bv the member for Stratford against the" Hon. T. K. MaeDonald, .M.L.C., so that the Legislative Council might deal with the same. (2) That the Chief Justice, havin* stated the objections of all the Judge's to accepting the proposed Commission to investigate the Hine charges, the order of the House referring the same to a commission of Judges be rescinded, and that the charges, with the exception of the one relating to the Hon. T. K. MaeDonald, be referred back to the committee set up to deal with them. The Premier said the letter of the Chief Justice showed that the course proposed was a proper one for the House to adopt.

Mn Massey said he regretted that the Premier had not agreed to have the charges referred to a commission of Judges when they were first made. The House had got into an awkward position. He was anxious to see the matter cleared up during the present session. Consequently, lie would offer no objection to the motions. He hoped that when the matter was again before the committee it would get more impartial treatment trom the chairman than was the case when the matter was before the House last. •Mr. Hanan considered Mr/ Massey's remarks unwarranted. He had been quite impartial in his speech, which was borne out by .the letter of the Chief Justice. fcir Joseph Ward said he would never have agreed to the matter being referred to the Judges 'before being dealt with by the House. He was anxious to see the matter referred to the committee. He heheved the chairman to be quite impartial. H Both motions were agreed to.