THE HINT CHARGES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10130, 2 December 1910, Page 5

THE HINT CHARGES.

AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUN, L.DR. FIN CLAY'S SPECIAL -PLEADING. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the Legislative Council tfc s afternoon, the Attorn >y-C en2ral mrved the adoption of the report cf the Hine Committee respecting the charges against the Hon. T. K. MacDonald. Dr. Fjndlay prefaced his remarks by a strong denunciation of the practice and system of public detraction which had grown up in th; political lif: of the Dominion, and of which t e present case was j an iilusration. The trend of Dr. Firidla/'s remarks was that while the Hon. Mr. Mac Donald was nominally attacked, the real attack was aimed at the reputation of the late Mr Sed- -. don, and the line [of investigation on the pait of Mi Hine was such as to "leave a nas;y taste in the mouth of the public over the whole affair." It was plainly MrHine's object to throw discredit upon the only Minister who had anything to do with the purchase,' and Mr Mac Donald was only an incident in this political inquisition. His action was only used as a means of discrediting and dishonouring a great name in the cause of Liberalism. But Mr Hine stood convicted of hypocricy, not only by his conduct, but by his words, for while beginning by disavowing any imputa- ' tion against the late Mr Seddon, he through his lawyer, proceeded to' cast as mxch suspicion on the late Mr Seddon's memory as he indirectly could. The whole spirit and methods of these charges were a blot on our public life, and since Mr Hine had throughout the support and approval of the Opposition party, that party, along with himself, had committed themselves to methods of political warfare which surely must make every fair-minded man sorry, if not indignant. In conclusion he thought it desirable to bring the Legislature into line with the recent legisation respecting municipal Harbour Boards, etc, to prevent the chance, however remote, of a man's private profit and public duty coming into conflict The debate which followed was brief and the Attorney-General in rej ply, said that he would, later on, •i bring down definite proposals as to I suggested legislation, and also on the | question of privilege.involved in the I charge made by a member of 1 one I House against a member of the other I House. It would be better, however, | to defer action for a little while. i The report was adopted.