MR HINE'S CHARGES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 199, 1 December 1910, Page 5

MR HINE'S CHARGES

DEBATE IX THE HOUSE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterd-nv. The debate on the report of the Hinc Committee was taken at 12.40 a.m. Mr. Massev protested against the debate proceeding at such a late hour. The Committee's fin lings, in his opinion. were unsatisfactory, especially in reference to Mr. Symes' letter to Mr. McCluggage, which ninety-seven people out of one hundred considered threatening. Regarding Flaxbourne, it was impossible for Mr. Wilson to do his work properly even in the time stated bv Mr. Wilson. The whole of the transactions with regard to Te Akau made one of the most dishonest incidents in the public life of the Dominion.

Sir Joseph Ward said that Mr. Hine had completely failed to substantiate his Tammany charges. None of the charges affected the present Government. The charges against the Seddon Government were cowardly and contemptible. Regarding Te Akau, the Government could not be held responsible for the action of a private member. He would ask the House to pass a resolution dealing with Mr. Kaihau's acceptance of payment for presenting petitions to the House, the honor and dignity of which must be maintained. Corruption such as existed in other countries was not found to exist in the Dominion. Mr. Allen moved as an amendment that the report tif the Committee be agreed to except .ns far as it referred to the Te Akau and Flaxbourne estates and the letter from Mr. Svm.es to Mr. McClugaage. He held that the letter constituted a threat. There .was unquestionable, evidence that Mr. Ivaihau had taken £2OOO for conducting the sale to the Crown, £SOO of which went to nay the costs of counsel. Mr. Millar said that some of the Opposition members' had got into the Hou-e by means of the purloined letter, which was as ugly an instance as he could remember in public life. It was admitted by Mr. Hine's counsel that there was no charge against the present Government, and the evidence showed that its administration-was untainted by Tammanyism. Mr. T. Taylor deprecated the idea that a dead man's name should not be mentioned. He accused Mr. Massev of slandering the House by saying that members were becoming lax in their ideas of Parliamentary dutv. As to Mr. Symes, he had no doubt he was prepared to do a corrupt action, but he could not sret the necessary partner. Mr. Kaihau should be called on to resign. He asked if some member of the Executive had not benefited by the Te Akau transaction.

Mr. Massey said he was glad he had nothing: to do with the Taylor-Seddon lawsuit, but if he.was free to say what he knew he would make Mr. Taylor very sorrv.

Mr. Taylor said he could say what he liked.

Wellington. Last Ni<jht.

Sir Joseph Ward replied to speeches and defended himself, as reported elsewhere, from what he described as cowardly, secret and malicious criticism.

Mr. Herdman contended; that the evidence showed that Taminanyism did exist. , , Mr. Allen's amendment that the report be adopted, with the exception of the portions referring to the Te Akau block, the Flaxbourne Estate and the letter from Mr. Svmes to Mr. McClusrgage. was .then put and rejected by 46 to 20. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. Tn the evening, Mr. Herries said he di'l not believe in diffsin? up the faults of fellow-members,'but he considered it necessarv to make some remarks re Te Akau block. He had always looked upon this transaction as peculiar and not creditable to the Government.

Mi - . Ivaihau said that, concerning Mr. Hine's charges, he had heard that persons had been paid to sav he had received money for work done by him as a member. He had nothing- to do with Horomona Watorouihi's petition until it was thrown out bv the House. There was something behind these charges which did not appear on ,the surface. Kalm Huatare paid him £lO fjor work done outside Parliament- only. He maintained the Committee had been unable to find him .guilty on any charges brought .against him. If other members of the House could a ttend to their ow.n duties outside the House, whv should he not attend to his in a similar manner? He did not know now what he was guiltv of. The Te Akau matter was simply between Maoris and Maoris. He knew the charges were not really levelled against him. The House ought fro uphold the name of the Premier of this or any other' countrv. Mr. Bangihiroa said the charge affected the Maori race as it was levelled against one of their four representatives. The Maori could not be expected to understand pakeha ways. The Maori system of ethics and the European system were totally different. Mr. Kaihau had broken no law in the Statute Book, and there was no law to condemn, him. Mr. Massey had received a presentation from his constituents of a thousand pounds. To the Maori mind this was quite the same thing as what happened in Mr. Kaihau's case.