M.P'S. AND LAND SALES TO GOVERNMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9856, 25 July 1914, Page 5

M.P'S. AND LAND SALES TO GOVERNMENT.

EVIDENCE IN BOORABIL COMMISSION. (Bf Bucraic TuMiara-ConßiaHT.) (Pn Pint Amocutiov.) July 25. JiO ••«. SYDNEY, July 25. The Boorabil Commission has opened. The evidence of the agents for the sale of the property to the Government for closer settlement purposes was to the effept that when it appeared likely the sale would not go through, Osborne and Jones were approached, the idea being that in their positions as member and ex-member of Parliament, they would have better access for pushing the sale forward than land agents, who were forbidden to interview the Lands Department. A certain commission was promised them. Osborne and Jones, examined, detailed the terms of the agreement and their interviews with Ministers and others. Jones, in reply to the Commissioners question as to whether it was his influence that brought about the sale, said: "It may be that, or it may be the access to the Ministers that we had." Osborne, in reply to a question, said he did not think they had any more influence or pull so far as the Government was concerned than any other reputable citieen. Osborne admitted that it was an indiscreet thing to give a vote in Parliament on a matter wherein they were pecuniarily interested, but he was inexperienced.