THE HINE CHARGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 77, 17 August 1912, Page 5

THE HINE CHARGES.

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Keprescutatives last night Mr. Hine presented the report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Estimates. Speaking on the item of £504 Hine charges for law expenses, Mr. Hine said that the idea had got abroad that he had received from the Government an amount for paying his expenses in connection with the charges made by Jiim two years ago. He lnul received nothing at nil from tnc Government for his costs. Apparently there had been an understanding between the Ward Government and those charged that if the latter did not pay their legal costs the Government would foot the bill. An amendment of the amount was sanctioned by the Ward Government the day before they left office, and the money was paid by the Mackenzie Government. Sir Joseph Ward said that the Public Accounts Committee took no exception to the amount of the account. Mr. Hine: I stated that it was an improper payment. Sir Joseph Ward said that Mr., Hine simply objected to the whole procedure. He had been approached by Mr. Bine's counsel and jinked to pay Mr. Hine's costs, and on the spur of the moment he had refused. Mr. Skerrett had been approached by some of those against whom the charges had been levelled and asked to conduct the cases for them. Mr. Skerrett had approached the late Attor-ney-General and informed Mm that he was not sure that he could get his expenses from the men. He could not take up the case unless he could be sure of getting his fees. The then AttorneyGeneral consulted the Cabinet, who came to the conclusion that in the event of Mr. Skerrett's costs not being paid the Government would be responsible. Though the charges were not laid against the.Government, it was indirectly concerned. Later Mr. Skerrett had informed him that his costs had not been paid, and, as a matter of ihonor, the Government had paid them. He had sent for Mr. Myers, Mr. Hine's counsel, and told him that he was prepared to pay a portion of the costs of the other side, but Mr. Myers refused. Mr. Skerrett had not been employed by'

the Government at all. He wished to make that quite clear. The Government did not stand in the way of the fullest information being obtained in connection with the Hine charges. Mr. Massey said that the matter had not been brought up for political capital to be made out of it. It was not a question of whether the payment should be made, but whether Mr. Hine would not, as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, be made to clear himself. It had been published in the papers that Mr. Hine had had part of his expenses paid by the Government. Sir Joseph Ward: I could have contradicted that on the first day of the session if I had been asked. * Mr. Massey said that it was an improper and iniquitious payment. Why had they waited nearly two years before paying the money? Sir Joseph Ward: I had not been asked before. Mr. Massey: If they had not been paid up to the present it would not be paid now. The Government should not have given a guarantee. He regretted that the payment had been made and the Government had done a very wrong thing in paying it. Mr. Russell said that the Government had every right to guarantee the amount to Mr. Skerrett. It was a function of Parliament to protect its members. Mr. Lee held that as the Government had paid Mr. Skerrett's account, they should certainly have done the same with Mr. Hine's counsel. Mr. Hindmarsh said that as Sir Joseph Ward knew that Mr. Skerrett's costs would be paid by the Government, it was his duty to. go at once to Mr. Hine's counsel and inform him. that ; the Government would pay his too. Had Mr. Hine known that his costs would be paid it might have completely changed his case.

Sir Joseph Ward said that when Mr. Myers approached him he had no idea of what the costs would be, nor whether they would be paid by those concerned. Mr. llin-e. replying, said that he appreciated the remarks of Mr. llindmarsh. Tils costs for the inquiry had amounted to £325.

The. report was laid on the table.