CO537-35 — Page 254

SAT.

SIXTH MEETING

2.15 p.m. 19th June 1906

Hoa E. A. Hewett presided.

All the Members present.

1r Humphreys :-

The Chairman :-

Mr Humphreys im

The Chairman :-

251

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Referenca:-

C.O. 537

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 Coumission? 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 - ?

I have consulted the Attorney General on that point

-

Ordinance 15 of 1886 the question of the Commissioner' a powers and he tells me that a witness may be reluctant to come forward and give evidence because he may be incrimina- -ting himself. But if he comes forward – and he is practi- so long, however, as we are satia -oally King's evidence – -fied he has told the truth we will give him a certificate which will prevent him being prosecuted. If you refer to 84 \'

you will find that in the event of his being prosecuted, if

he produces this certificate from the Chairman of the Com-

--- 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 commuita perjury he 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 nad 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 I have hequrei him through his friend that he will get

35

RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

OUT PERMISSION OF THE

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