BOORABIL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 25, 29 July 1914, Page 7

BOORABIL

THE LAND SCANDAL EVIDENCE BEFORE THE COMMISSION MINISTERS EXAMINED. (By Telegraph.— Press ABSociatlcm.— Copyright.) SYDNEY, 28th July. Before the Royal Commission on tho Boorabil Estate sale, Mr. Holman, the Premier, was n examined at great length. He stated in his evidence that Mr. G. A. Jones interviewed him prior to the Cabinet's consideration of the resumption of the Boorabil Estate for closer settlement, and complained that he could not get the Hon. J. L. Trefie (Minister of Lands and Agriculture) to finally decide the matter, and as he was going before his constituents he 'wanted the matter settled one way or another. Mr. Holman was not then 'aware that the proposed resumption had been rejected, but was to be reconsidered. He declm'ed that the Labour party was opposed to members of Parliament acting .as land agents, as it left the door open to abuse in that members of the party who were supporting the Government might obtain a concession as the price of a vote. He denied that anything of that kind had occurred in (jie present instance. There Was no question of political pressure on Mr. Jones's part. He knew Messrs. Jones and Osborne were carrying on a land agency business, and that Jones was getting very little remuneration out of the Business. He did not know at the time tho vote waa taken that Messrs. Osborne and Jones had voted in favour of the resumption of the estate. Had he known, ho would have considered it a great indiscretion. Mr. Holman added that he accepted Mr. Jones's assurance that the 'Hon. J. L. Trend thought the Boorabil Estate was a bargain, and a good one. The Hon. J. L. Trefle was examined as to the details of the negotiations with the owners for resumption, rikl the con* sideffrtions which led Cabinet not to accept the offer. He took it for granted that Messrs. Johes and Osborne were acting: as land agents and were being paid t>y somebody. Eight year ago ho i had placed a clause in the Labour platform against members of Parliament acting as land agents. Mr. Trcflc was asked how it came about that the two were so acting, and replied: "That is a matter for tjicir Sonsliiueniß and the jSxeculixe.i,'-' I