THE MOKAU DEALINGS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1195, 2 August 1911, Page 5

THE MOKAU DEALINGS

THAT INQUIRY.

MR, MASSEY. SPEAKS IN THE HOUSE.

THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS

FRIENDS.

MR. FOWLDS REPLIES.

During (.lie delate, on the Address-in-Poply Just night, Mr. Massey, leader of (ho Reform Parly, dealt trenchantly v>"ith the action of tho Government in regard lo (he recent dealings in the Mclean lands. Sir. Massey said he did. not know whether the Acting-Premier was going lo tako (ho initiative in (ho matter of an inquiry or not, hut he would press for an inquiry this session. Ho ridiculed (ho ludicrous challenge advanced by Mr. Loughnau, of Palmerslon North, and went on to state the facts. He said that -50,01)0 acres of land had been sold to Mr. Hermann Lewis for .£2500 cash and .£2500 in shares in a company to be formed. Mr. Jennings That's not correct. . Mr. Massey: I challengo him lo say it is not correct. I have the official document here. Mr. Massey then read a letter from the President of the Maori Land Board, in proof of his statement. ,n ~ , l ' e ° arca of Iml<J llcul I]Cen «>'d at 10s. 4 5 d. per acre, lie went on to 6uy that the Order-iu-Couuril had been issuejl.on March 15, the meeting of owners vook place on March 22, tho sale was confirmed on the 24th, and tho Gazette notice did not appear until the 30th. The Value of the Land. As to tho value of the laud, ho quoted a laudatory newspaper description of it. this article stated that there were.46,000 acres of freehold and 14,000 acres of leasehold. "There is a discrepancy there, said Mr. Massey, "hut the man who bought the land kept 7000 acres to himself.' (Oh!) The newspaper article under notice had referred to the excellent quality of the land, the coal and limber on it, and the tourist Irnflic that large area was sold at 10s. did,, and it was gone. 1 Mr. Forbes What is the name of the paper? Mr. Massey: The "Xew Zealand' rimes." (Laughter.) Mr. Massey went on to refer to the law in regard to tho sale of large areas of Native land. It was not lawful for any European lo purchaso Native land to a greater area than 400 acres of first-class, 1000 acres of second-class land, or 11000 acres of thirdclass laud. There was, luVever, another clause in tho Act, stating that if the Government considered it was in the public interest, they could issue an Order-in-Coimcil authorising a larger area to be sold. Tho Government did this, and 50,000 acres of Native land had been sold at 10s. 4Jd. nor acre. Parliament had never intended that that sort of thing should be done, Such a thing could only be done for friends of the Government. Mr. Forbes Who is a friend of the Governnicnt!' Mr. Massey: I suppose the lion, gentleman is a friend of the Government. ,Mr. Massey went on to say that ho wanted to know whether tho Native owners were notified (hat tho land was to be purchafed, whether a deposit was paid, and whether that deposit was returned. Will Make It Clear. Sir J. Carroll: We will make all that clear. Mr. Mas;ey: I'm very glad to bear it. Continuing, Mr. Massey contended that the reports of the Commission (the Chief .Tustico and Chief Judge Jackson Palmer) should have been complied with. They considered that, the leases were void or voidable, and that the land had again become Native land, and they recommended flie Government lo purchase and settle the land. Tho Government, however',, did nothing, of'tho kind, and members knew what had happened. The land iUelf had not been sold, because there were conditions attached. The purchasers had to subdivide and dispose of .tho laud within three years. Hence what v.n* hoally sold to a syndicate of speculators was tho,right (o exploit the settlers.

"Disgraceful Transaction." There might be some excuse if the land had boon sold lo someone nble to develop if, though he did not advocate that— but there could lie no excuse for giving these speculators the right lo exploit • the settlers. It was one of the most disgraceful transactions In the history of this country. It would be said that there would have been difficulty owing to (ho leases being brought under the Land Transfer Act, if the recommendations of . the Commission had been carried out. The fact was that there was recent legislation introduced by the Acting-Premier himself, providing that in such cases a lease or license might terminated by the Government on acquiring tho land, and the lessee or licensee would receive compensation under the same procedure as for land taken under the Public Works Act. This would have exactly met the caso of the Mokau leases. What had been douo was not satisfactory to tho Native owners because they had received much less than the value of tho land. The future settlers also would have fj pay for the profits of the two sets of speculators in their rentals.. In making tho above statements he had but dono his- duty, and whpt he had stated could not bo 'contradicted. A memwr: 1 wilt deal with it. Air. .Uitssoy: i hope so. I want ail in-. qmiy into vlio wlioio matter, A uieinuer: Isn't ttiat promised? Mr. iiassey: les, but not vhe form of Iho inquiry Mr, Fowlds in Defence. The Hon. G. Fowlds niterwards made a', brief reference to the matter, lie hoped, that Ur. iliiisev's allegations would l)d fully inquired into, ami lie was satisfied that no discredit would attach to the, Government, but, on the contrary, it. would be shown that tho Government deserved credit for piloting the ship id .State through a dilhctilt and dangerous situations, getting the land settled with ; out a lawsuit, and without lite liability ; that mi-ht have been attached to the : Land Transfer Department in connection . wi the registration of the lenses. There e'er lu'd been, and never would I*. a clearer case of the interests of theW ?,.?- Vlemiiidiiiß the exercise by the Gov-