THE HINE CHARGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 181, 10 November 1910, Page 5

THE HINE CHARGES.

MR. JENNINGS GIVES EVIDENCE. MR. SYMES' LETTER TO MR. McCLUCGAGE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Wednesday. The Hine Committee of the Lower House resumed this morning. Mr. Jennings, member for Taumarunui. said that in 1005 he represented Egmont, which included the suburbs of Stratford. Witness did not remember having seen the original letter from Mr. Synies to Mr. McCluggage before, and was certain he did not take the letter to Sir Joseph Ward. Witness only asked Sir Joseph Ward to give the Stratford paper fair consideration. He certainly did not try to bring any influence to bear. Replying to Mr. Myers, witness said he would not himself write a letter like Mr. Symes wrote McCluggage, which was an improper action for a member, Mr. Hine had quoted the letter in the election campaign at Stratford and Tnglewood. Generally speaking, in witness' opinion, the same conditions should pertain to Parliament as to local bodies re disqualification. Replying to Sir Joseph Ward witness said that he was aware the Government could not buy an estate at a higher price than recommended by the Land Purchase Board. He considered it a dishonorable action to use a private and confidential letter in an election campaign. He considered the letter from Mr. Symes was private and confidential. Mr. W. TT. Ataek, manager of the Press Association, was the next witness. Sir Joseph Ward asked whether the Association enjoyed any rights.

Mr. Myers and several members of the committee objected to this as irrelevant, but the chairman ruled in Sir Joseph Ward's favor. The latter mentioned as an instance of what he meant the copyright law.

Witness said it did not cover New Zealand telegrams. In reply to further questions, he said only recognised agents of the Press Association were allowed to send telegrams in its name. Sir Joseph Ward read a long telegram which has figured in these proceedings, and which appeared under the heading ''Press Association" in a Taranaki paper. Witness said so far as he knew it was not sent by the Press Association, but was probably attributed to it. He desired to say that the statement made by a former witness that it had appeared in a number of papers appeared to be incorrect, as it could not be found" in others. The Association's instructions to its agents were that no message of a partisan character must be sent, and telegrams must be confined to facts. He had written to the ''Taranaki Daily News" asking them on what ground the message was published under the Association heading, but had not received a reply. These headings were kept standing in type, and probably a wrong one had been slipped in by mistake. Sir Joseph Ward notified that a return would be furnished showing the names of members of Parliament who as land agents 'had approached the Government with a view to the purchase" of estates. The committee considered this a matI ter for deliberation and further consideration.

The Symes charges were postponed, as some witnesses were unable to be present.

The charges against Mr. Kaihau of having received commission for the sale of the Te Akau block and receiving payments for petitions were next taken. Mr. Myers intimated that there were six separate charges re petitions, and that he would confine his case to these. Mr. Kensington, ,Under-Secretary for Lands, detailed the negotiations for the purchase of the Te Akau block in January, 1907. Mr. Carroll sent witness a copy of the deed between the natives and Mr. Kaihau requesting the Government to pay him ten per cent, of the purchase money. Both Mr. Carroll anu witness declined to acknowledge this deed and witness notified the land purchase officer that the, negotiations were not to be conducted through Mr. Kaihau, as the native owners objected to his presence in the matter. Money for the purchase was paid to the vendors direct. Mr. Kaihau had no standing in the transactions between the Department and the natives. The committee, after deciding not to accept any further charges after 5 Friday's sitting, adjourned.