247.
SIXTH MEETING
2.17 p.m. 18th June 1900
Hoa E. A. Herett presided.
All the Members present.
Ar Humphreys :-
The Chairman :-
Mr Humphreys :-
The Chairman :-
251
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:-
C.O. 537
35
May I ask a question before we begin? Are we going to request the Government to give a sort of exemption from prosecution to all witnesses who come before the Commission? That has already been arranged for. If you will notice,
in
the original Commission reference is made to section 4 of Ordinance 13 of 1886. I will read you the clause in the Commission ( quotes) This is the Governor's Commission
( Quotes )
Then that certificate
- 7
I have consulted the Attorney General on that point Ordinance 18 of 1886 the question of the Commissioner's
-
powers and he tells me that a witness may be reluctant to come forward and give evidence because he may be incrimina-
- and he is practi- -ting himself. But if he comes forward -cally King's evidence so long, however, as we are satia- -fied he has told the truth we will give him a certificate which will prevent him being prosecuted. If you refer to 64 you will find that in the event of his being prosecuted, if he produces this certificate from the Chairman of the Con- -mission countersigned by the Secretary he will be exempted from prosecution and he will be indemnified for the prose- -cution. Of course, if a man comes before us and commits
perjury ho has to stand the consequences of that. But it is
very necessary for this Commission, and it is provided for
so as to protect witnesses and encourage then to come for-
-ward before the Commission. Otherwise, they might not come f forward. I have one case of a man who would not come forward
but 1 have endurei him through his friend that he will get
A
RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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