PRESS COMMENTS IRREGULAR.

Northern Advocate, 18 November 1910, Page 5

PRESS COMMENTS IRREGULAR.

FLAXBOURNE VALUATION

At the Hine inquiry this morning, Mr Hanan, the chairman, spoke of the impropriety of the press in various parts of the Dominion in commenting on the procedure of the committee, even going so far as to anticipate ihr verdict. Should such happen again he would, as chairman, hdve to refer it to the House as a breach of privilege. Edwin Griffin, land valuer, of Napier, said he had been eleven years in the employ of the Government. He was employed in the Flaxbourne negotiations, being in charge of the camp them and conducting the surveyors and valuers over the property. Mr Wilson arrived at Flaxbourne on a Sunday midday, and left either on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. Mv Wilson told, him that he was only doing the .valuation because his partner was acting as assessor without payment. No other valuer did the work in less than 11 days.

To Mr Skerrett: Witness was retrenched from the Government service.

Mr Hanan remonstrated strongly with counsel and members of the committee for wasting time in asking irrelevant questions.

To the Hon. J. A. Millar: Witness would say that such a casual report , as Mr Wilson's was valueless, and that j, Mr Wilson was paid unfairly as com- i pared with other valuers. ! To Mr Massey: Such places as: Flaxbourne were valued by the carrying capacity. The way in which Mr Wilson spoke to witness was such as unmistakably conveyed the idea that he only came over to ensure some payment being made to Mr Macdonald, as the latter was prevented by law from receiving payment for acting as assessor. To Mr Myers, M.P.: He was positive that Mr Wilson did not remai-i after the Wednesday morning. To Mr Hanan witness said that Mr Wilson probably covered 4000 acres. All witness saw him do was to act as assistant groom and cook, but he might have made a valuation unknown to witness. He was surprised to hear that Mr Tattle had received £631 for his services. To the Hon. J. A. Millar: He had never charged up whisky to the Department. The voucher produced for ten gallons was not made out by him. The committee adjourned till Monday.

TELEGRAMS.

Press Association