TAMMANYISM.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10064, 11 August 1910, Page 5

TAMMANYISM.

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. ",;■•' ■•.>'' -: '■•' *■__ :' " -■ ■•..-■. OF TAKING CuMMIS- ,/-■'■, ■*:■(•<■ SIGNS.-. ■ By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 10. In the House of Parliament lonigth, Mr Tk B. Taylor referred to the chsrges of Tammany ism. He said he did not believe there was a member in the House, or on the Executive, who used his position corruptly for private gam. Mr Hine's charges were not definite 'enough to'aliowof action being taken. lie urged the member for Stratford to clear the matter up andtrus render the House a distinct service. It was not right to make a general charge. Mr Hine said he was unwilling to bring himself unnecessarily forward, 1 and was not animated by stay spite or personal consideration. He. cited ,'Maj" on the acceptance of bribes, and went on to refer to the fact that under the Land for Settlement Act, the Minister in charge had to give his sanction to the purchase of an estate. It had frequently happened that estates offered far sale had been 1 declined, but negotiations';"for .sale

leclined, but negoliations for sale had subsequently been opened. He would not give naaiej, but would refer to 'caEea by means of numbers. No. 1. an M.P.v acted as agent for the vendor and reaeived a commis sior7 No. 2, two M.'sP., acted as agents conjointly and accepted cummissiona; No. 3, an NLP., divided commission with tne land agent; No. 4, an M.P.» received a huge commission, tanning into four figures for acting.as agent. All these cases occurred in connection with the sale

of estates to the Government..

Sir Joseph Ward said Mr Hine had adopted an extraordinary ' course. Why had he not written to the Governraent? He asked.if the charge I applied to any present member of I the House.

Mr at the time the commission was paid the parties referred to were members of the House. He woulJ probably have further cases to refer to next day.

Sir Joseph Ward said if Mr Hine was not prepared, either publicly or privately, to give' the names, he considered his statement not to be believed. It was his clear duty to give the names after publicly re« ferring to the matter.