THE HINE CHARGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 172, 29 October 1910, Page 5

THE HINE CHARGES.

A FRESH INDICTMENT. THE GOVERNMENT NAMED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. The Hine Committee of the Lower House met this morning. On Mr. Massey's motion Mr. Myers, counsel for Mr. Hine, was allowed to appeal. Messrs. Kailiau and Symes wrote asking for an adjournment to allow of then attendance. It was decided that the committee meet next Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, when the parties interested and witnesses must be in attendance. Mr. Myers said he proposed first to take evidence re the charges against Mr. Symes. Mr. Hine now made a further charge that in or about the year 1904 the Government having taken steps to acquire eompulsorily the property known as the Flaxbourne Estate and appointed a. member of the Legislative Council, Thomas Kennedy MacDpnald, as then assessor, and knowing or believing that by reason of his being a member of the Legislature the said Thomas Kennedy Mac Donald could not be paid any remuneration for acting as assessor, sent the then partner of the said Thomas Kennedy Mac Donald, one Alexandei Lorimer Wilson, to make a casual inspection of the said property, and paid him an exceptional and wholly extravagant fee therefor, with the intent or object of indirectly remunerating the said Thomas Kennedy Mac Donald as such assessor as aforesaid. Mr. Hine preferred this as a charge, against the Government, not against Mr. MacDonald. He also said that a charge of accepting payment running into four figures was being made against Mr. Kaihau, and that the paper mentioned in the charge against Mr. Symes was the Stratford Post. Mr. Myers asked that Parliament should summon witnesses, and pay thenexpenses, and that witnesses be sworn. Sir Joseph Ward agreed to this. 1R Myers asked permission to peruse the Departmental files and Treasury and imprest vouchers relating to the purchases mentioned in the charges, and said he would intimate what files he required.

IN THE COUNCIL. Wellington, Yesterday. The committee appointed by the Legislative Council to inquire into the charge made by Mr. Hine against the Hon. T. K. Mac Donald met this morning. The Hon. Mr. Callan was appointed chairman, and it was decided that the meetings should be open to the press. The committee then rose. THE PREMIER MAGNANMOUS. Wellington, Last Night. Sir Joseph Ward, referring to the message from the Legislative Council, pointing out that the charge against the Hon. T. K. Mac Donald by Mr. J. B. Hine was a breach of privilege, said lit proposed to ask the House to pass a resolution admitting the breach of privilege, but pointing out that the same was made inadvertently before a Select Committee of the House, which had referred the same to the Council. He asked the Speaker for his opinion as to whether a breach of privilege ham heen committed. The Speaker said it was a breach ot privilege for a member of the House to comment upon the conduct of or to make a charge against a member of the Upper House. Mr. Massev suggested that consideration of the matter be postponed till MonA message was received from the Council, requesting that Mr. Hine be «iven leave to attend the committee set up to dea< with the charge against the Hon. Mac Donald. This was agreed to. CONSIDERATION HELD OVER. In the House of Representatives in the evening, on the motion of Sir Joseph Ward,°it was agreed to hold over consideration of the message from the Legislative Council anent the charge against the Hon. T. K. Mac Donald.