MR HINE'S CHARGES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10087, 7 September 1910, Page 5

MR HINE'S CHARGES.

EXPLANATION BY THE PRIME MINSTER.

A WARM DISCUSSION

MR HINE ISSUES ANOTHEK CHALLENGE.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night;

Referring in the House of Representatives this afternoon to the remarks recently made by Mr T. "E. Taylor on the charges made by Mr Hine against members of Parliament who had, he alleged, received cornmissions for acting aa agents in the sale of estates to the Government, Sir Joseph Ward stated that when tha charges were first made he (Sir Joseph) had written to the Chairmen of the Land Purchase Boards (Messrs McKerrow, Barron and Ritchie), asking them if the Government bad attempted to bring pressure to bear upan the Land Purchase Boarc 1 . The reply was a distinct negative. The Government had no power in regard to the purchase of estates beyond accepting or rejecting the ndations of the Land Furchase B< ard. If ft!r Hine knew of any improper transactions,,it was his duty to name the parties responsible for them, otherwise a reflection was allowed to remain on every member of the House at tig time to which the charges referred.„

Mr Bine said that his reason for not divulging the names was that he did not think it rigiu to no so unless he knew a tribunal would be set up to try the members he referred to. If the Premier woald appoint a Commission he would be prepared to state all the facts. A sitting numtier on the Government side at the last general election bad admitted having accepted a commission for placing a petition before the House. Yet Sir Joseph Ward had gone into, the former's district .and* ..made a policy speech.

Sir Joseph Ward: Who was the man?

Mr Hine: He was my opponent.

The Premier said there was only a short word with which to characterise the statement, but he was not permitted to use it. If Mr Hine would repeat his remarks outside the House, he (Sir Joseph) would take steps to protect himself. Mr Massey quoted from the Act to show that the Minister of Lands had a direct voice in the purchase of estatss so far as making an offer for the land was concerned.

Sir Joseph Ward said Mr Massey's impressions were unfounded. The Minister could only act on the recommendation of the Board. Be could not take part in the negotiations or make an offer for the purchase of lands.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie said'that, so far as the Government was concerned, their care and* honesty in regard to the purchase of estates could not be questioned. His own opinion was that the Government was not paying a large enough price for estates in many [cases,fand its attitude was, if anything, too conservative, with the result that many good estates were lost to the country. Replying to Mr Fisher, the Premier said if Mr Hine disclosed the names, he (Sir Joseph) to make inquiry into the matter. Mr Hine suggested that Supreme Court judges be appointed a Commission. He prepared to pay the cost of the enquiry J[if he failed to prove hits charges.