THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7, 1910. MR HINE'S CHARGES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10087, 7 September 1910, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7, 1910. MR HINE'S CHARGES.

The charges made by Mr Hine, that certain members of Parliament had

accepted commissions over the sale of estates to the Government, were again referred to in the House of Representatives yesterday, when the Prime Minister made a statement to the effect that the Government had no voice in the acquisition of estates other than to approve or . reject. The responsibility for acquiring estates rested solely with - the Land Purchase Board. This is one of those half-truths which are calculated to put the public oil the scent. It is probably a fact that the Minister is guided, to some extent, by the recommendations of the Board. It is matter of common knowledge, however, that the recommendations of the Board are not always approved by the Minister. Will the Prime Minister state that every estate recommended by the Land Purchase Board has been acquired? Does he wish the public to believe that no estate upon which the Board has reported unfavourably has been resumed ? But, after all, the matter of who is responsible for the resumption of the estates is somewhat beside the question. What Mr Hine has alleged is that certain gentlemen, when members of Parliament, have accepted ' commissions for performing certain ] services in connection with the ac- ' quisition of estates. Whether these 1 services were rendered with the Go-. A vernment or with the Land Purch-- * ase Board is of little consequence. * What the country requires to know I is whether one or more members r have used their public positions to F further their own private interests, i s and, if so, does this constitute an I e ,■306 of immorality ? TII3 Prime b Miniate? d,oea sot eaom to. il

allow the matter to go before an independent tribunal. His attitude in this connection is rightly a subject for comment, if everything is clean and above board, and the Prime Mnister has nothing to fear, why does he refuse Mr Hine's request for a Commission of Judges ? He surely does not expect Mr Hine to make specific charges against individuals without an assurai.ee that he will be permitted to call theevi- ! dence he may require. The TaraI naki member has made a direct challenge, a challenge which cannot well be ignored, when he offers to pay the whole cost of the Commission if he fails to substantiate his charges.