The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28. MR HINE'S CHARGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 196, 28 November 1910, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28. MR HINE'S CHARGES.

The charges made by Mr. Hine, M.P., have created a great deal of interest. The most serious part of the earlier allegations was that "Tamirjanyisni" was rampant and that the Government was involved. Although when, on a demand by Mr. Hine for a Parliamentary enquiry into specific allegations, there were no charges formulated against the Government, during the hearing of the allegations against members the Government has obviously been on its trial. The outstanding feature of the enquiry h that, after a careful and impartial examination of- all the evidence forthcoming, the Government emerges with cleat: hands. It should be a comfort to people of all shades of political belief that t-;is is so, because if, in a country where politics plays so very large a part, questionable practices were condoned by the administration, public morality would inevitably suffer. In all the cases against members of Parliament, the Commission found that there had been no illegal transaction or corruption on the part of any of them. Although no'ie of these gentlemen actually broke any existing law, the committee regard? a? improper, and rightly so, the receiving of money by the members of Parliament for furthering transactions in regard to Government purchases. The impropriety of such a method is, of course, patent to everybody, for it is seen that the fact of membership of Parliament gave the beneficiaries an advantage that would otherwise be unobtainable. If such practices, which are improper but not illegal, were allowed to continue, places in Parliament might be fought for, not for the honor of serving the people, but for the "pickings" that are evidently obtainable. No man has any right to woo the electors if he desires to obtain a place for the money that may be made out of it. Parliament is composed largely 'of honorable men, and we have no doubt at all that the whole body is as jealous of its reputation as need be. Very probably the disclosures made and the finding of the committee will make it more difficult for members so disposed to obtain "pickings". The committee resolved: "That legislation should be passed, making it illegal for a member of Parliament to act on his own behalf, or on behalf of any person, in negotiating the sale of an estate to the Crown." It is unlikely that such legislation can be passed this session, but in the meantime the result of the resolution will possibly be regarded as an unwritten law, for few members of Parliament would have the temerity to accept money presents from transferors to the Crown after the ventilation of the cases following Mr. Hint's charges. It may be that the specific cases in which members of Parliament have been able, without illegality, to obtain "pickings," either with or without demand, are not uncommon either in New Zealand or elsewhere. If the Hine charges and the findings of the committee have the effect of making breaches of moral law among members of Parliament impossible or inexpedient, much good has been done. Parliament is composed of the people's representatives, and its members. should reflect the integrity of their constituents. If a Parliament becomes corrupt it necessarily follows in a democracy that the people represented condone corruptness. We believe that the people of New Zealand dislike anything that savors of corruptness, and that Parliament as a whole eagerly desires cleanliness in administration, ft is ■gratifying to be able to believe that the ventilation of the irregularities and the recommendations of the committee may have the effect of preventing any member of Parliament from doing anything that even savors of impropriety in regard to the use of a high and honorable calling.