DISMISSAL OF CHAIRMAN

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25021, 1 November 1946, Page 3

DISMISSAL OF CHAIRMAN

HAMILTON LAND SALES COMMITTEE CONCERN EXPRESSED BY LAW SOCIETY (P.A.) HAMILTON. October 31. An investigation by the Hamilton District Law Society into the dismissal of Mr S. Lewis from the chairmanship of the Hamilton Land Sales Committee has resulted in the issue of a long statement which expresses concern that the circumstances were not made the subject of an official inquiry. Summarising the evidence it had before it, the society • said that the majority of cases mentioned in the debate in the Hbuse of Representatives sought to support the allegation by the Minister of Lands (the Hon. 8. F. Skinner) of bias against the rown by Mr Lewis and related to special values allowed alleging unfairness and harshness against Crown witnesses and officers. The society submitted the following answers to these allegations:— “First, the Crown had full right of appeal in every case. “Out of approximately 4800 cases heard we can find reference to only 31* appeals, only one of which was allowed at a figure less than that fixed by the committee, and even then above the Crown valuation. “Second, at least two of three of the committee of three concurred in, and were parties to, every decision given. “If, then, the chairman were at fault, were not the other members of the committee equally at fault?” the society asks. “Further, it was noteworthy that the Land Sales Court in an appeal recently heard upheld Mr Lewis’s dissenting judgment in which the purchase price was £l5OO, and the price fixed by thS other two members of the committee in a majority decision was £320, the Crown valuation. This price was increased by the Appeal Court to £900.”

The society helcj that investigations had not disclosed any justification for the action taken by the Minister, saying that the incident was privileged and that Mr Lewis had no redress. The society says that as a society it is deeply concerned over the Lewis case, for it believed that, as important principles of justice were concerned, the fullest inquiry and investigation should have been made before any action was taken.