THE MOKAU TRANSACTION.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 217, 31 August 1911, Page 6

THE MOKAU TRANSACTION.

NATIVE COMMITTEE’S INQUIRY

Wellington. Aug. 31. The Mokau committee of enquiry was resumed this morning. Mr. Greenslade commented on the interview with Mr Massey published in the New Zealand Herald, in which a statement was made that the enquiry was proceeding slowly, but as the committee was composed of nine Government members and only three Oppositionists, the result was a foregone conclusion. Mr. Greenslade expressed resentment at the statement.

Mr. Walter Harry Bowler, president of the Native Land Board, said on the application of Mr. Dalziel, on behalf of Mr. Herman Lewis, witness convened on January 6th a meeting of owners of the block numbering 108 in all. There were 40 natives at the first meeting, and of these some were against the sale to Mr. Lewis A sub-clause of the Act empowered the Native Member to have the meet-

ing convened. At the first meetin ga majority of the owners representing 30,000 acres were in favour of the sale. Witness did not know of any case where the board sanctioned sale, if one of the owners dissented.

A second meeting was held on 10th March. Mr. Dalziel being present. This meeting was adjourned to March 22nd, Judge Holland making witness place in trust the Mokau moneys, which were paid out in two cheques each, on June Ist, one cheque representing ten per eent., which the Natives wished witness to

hold, to cover legal expenses, etc. This was done at the Natives’ own unanimous request, and XX itness held this money now excepting £270 of which £l7O had been paid to Mr. MacDonald and £ioo to another agent. Andrew Eketone had asked witness for some money on account, but witness had not paid him. Witness produced a statement of accounts by the agents, including Mr Hardy’s account for £373. Mr. Bowler said that only three of the committee of natives, so far as he knew, had claims against the 10 per cent, he was holding as trustee. He could not account for the fact, that the letter written by Mr. Jones on the Uth did not reach him till the 22nd. He received a wire from Mr. Dalziell informing him that an Order-in-Council had been made. He verified this from the head office at Wellington.

Mr. Massey asked if it was customary to take such information from an individual outside the ser-

Mr. Bowler: ’Certainly, so long as he is a reputable solicitor. To Su- J- Carroll: The Maori Land Board took no action in connection with the meeting of assembled own-

’ Mr. Ngata : The first meeting of assembled owners took place on January 6th. subsequent to the meeting of the Land Board, and finallv decided to recommend the issue of application for alienation. A number of proxies were used at meetings of the natives. It was usual tot agents to make claims tn connection with obtaining sign.* m cs. et< .. or sale of lands. The committee adjourned unto tomorrow. —