THE MOKAU LANDS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1193, 31 July 1911, Page 4

THE MOKAU LANDS

Sir,—l notice in the press that Sir James Carroll had been speaking at, Christchurcli in defence of the Government actions with regard to this properly, and he makes statements that are incorrect and misleading. Ho says: (1) That a Tory Government had confirmed my right and given me a fifty-sis years' lease at a peppercorn rental; this is contrary to fact. What ho calls the Tory Government did not confirm my lease. If it did. it was a. very praiseworthy act to perform. It saved the country immense sums of money that were being wasted in defence against tho people whose friendship the colony at that time desired to acquire, and it opened up tho King Country, which was acknowledged by Sir G. Grey and Sir Harry Atkinson. Tho Acting-Premier lias missed his mark in endeavouring to make capital out of this event. Ho was probably referring to tho Local and Personal Act. >»o. 7, of 188S, passed by tho Atkinson Ministry, and which merely rectified what had been improperly dono by certain Government officials, ns set out in tho report upon which tho statute was founded. Tho dealings were confirmed by letters and telegrams of a Liberal Government in IS7B-9, and bv a slaluta with special provisions bv another Liberal Government, in 1885. The matter of rentals, however, was not inquired into by any of them; tho Trust Commissioners dealt with that question long after the statutes had been pas?ed. As to peppercorns I failed to ?ce oven our of them in 1876, when a soul ivUh -a. copper would venture into this territory, guarded, as it was, against

the Natives, ivith armed constabulary. When flie open inquiry, which tho Government ha* hitherto refused, shall beconio set up, 1 will lindertako to show that the peppercorn story of Sir .1. Carroll is mere-clap-trap for political purposes, and . that tho Native owners from 187(i onwards have received more than any one else would have agreed to give them, aud a very fair thing at that. (:!) Referring to tho recent dealings with the properly, Sir James Carroll says: t'The. value of tho leasehold is greater than tho value of Hie freehold." .[ shall not discuss tho merits, of such a silly assertion, but would point out that, a Royal Commission, at the instigation of Dr: Findav, was set np, and reported tho leasehold title to bo . illegal, therefore valueless. But now, when tho Government, by Order-in-Council, lias granted —illegally, I maintain—tho right to purchase tho freehold by Messrs. l'indlay and Dalziell's client, tho lease, that lias no locus, becomes more valuablo than the freehold. If Sir .lame;, implies the intrinsic value he is simply endeavouring to throw'dust in people's eyes who know better. „ ~ ~ (3) Sir James Carroll says the negotiations for purchase were "stifled. How, it; may bo asked, could this happen, ■ while tho Crown held tho pre-emptive right, as well as the purchase in hand, and could bavo proclaimed tlic block at any moment. . The Acting-Premier and Ins chiei may vet be called upon to explain why tho arrangements : made with me by the I rime Minister and himself» hofch verbally niid in'writing,-with-assurances to honourable Members, to-settle .this, matter on welldefined and fair grounds to all. partiesstated on paper-were not carried out, but waived- in favour -ot Messrs. Findlay and Dalziell's client, and by what consideration wore Ministers prompted m advising liis Excellency, to sign an Order-m-Council authorising the sale and purchase ot the property at a "peppercorn under tho pretext that it was in the public interests when as a fact, it was for the beneht :of the land ring who had no claim upon the State.—l am, etc., J. JUiNliO. Jlokau. '