JUSTIFICATION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3396, 11 December 1911, Page 3

JUSTIFICATION

[To the editor.]

“Act well your part—there all the honor lies.”

Sir, —At a. sitting of the Tairawbiti District Maori Land Board held on the sth. of December last, the President (Judge Jones) granted consents to lease in the AVbarekabika block (they being the ones loft in abeyance on account of the interference of the Undersecretary), the President remarking “it was but just to grant them.” It will certainly he interesting to know what comments the Under-Secretary and the Hon. Native Minister will now have to make upon the question, for a Judge of the Native Land Court (who was Deputy Chief Judge) upheld ray contentions. Where is their policy question P or what legal standing had the Under-Secretarv P and u]>on what grounds did Sir James Carroll upho'.o his unwarrantable interference with w-.--in the exercise of my judicial dut-ir-s. I submit that the confirmation of my action by His Honor Ju<!<,<> Jones (wno is next Senior Judge to the Chief Judge) is more than a. complete answer, and full justification of my action in granting these consents. However, seeing that swift retribution is overtaking the Government, of which the Hon. Native Minister is no small unit, possibly when the new Parliament meets a commission will be asked for to go into Native affairs in general, when some interesting matter and information. will no doubt he disclosed. In the meantime the Under-Secretary and Sir James Carrol! may be good enough to enlighten the public if they considered the action of His Honor the President in granting those consents, is in keeping with the law and justice, or do they still desire, their begev. the policy question, carried out. In my letter in the “Hines” of the 3rd of November f then said it was to the everlasting reproach of Sir James Carroll that lie did not uphold his President, and now that his Honor Judge Jones has seen fit to confirm my action, it is more than a full vindication of an intelligent reading of an Act of Parliament taken by myself and the Board.—l am, etc., ALEX. KEEFER.