Suspicious Transaction

Northern Advocate, 4 October 1947, Page 2

Suspicious Transaction

"Mr Reynolds said he would base his case on the foundations that the’purchase was a highly suspicious transaction, that the vendors were not even the reputed owners, that the sale was not complete, and that injustice was done to the former Maori owners. The commission was empowered in its order of reference to inquire into this last point. He quoted the Treaty of Waitangi, which gave to the Queen the sole right of pre-emption of such lands as the proprietors thereof might be willing to dispose of. He saw in this the creation of a giant monopoly from 1840 to 1862, when the first Native Lands Act was passed, This monopoly tended to keep the price of land down. The British Colonial Secretary, the Marquess of Normanby, had instructed that natives were to be treated with the same equity and good conscience used in deals with Englishmen. This had not been done. Mr Reynolds quoted Mr Kemp's letter to the Governor recommending

that payment be made for the Mokau block at a price ‘which I consider fair and reasonable and as low as it ca made.” That, he contended, w equitable or in good conscience, He said the Crown would sugges that the kauri in this block was a that time valueless, being in t.ie maccessible hinterland, Yet Mr Kemp had written that it was a valuable stand of kauri and other timber, with an available road, Logs also could have been floated down the Waipapa River to the Hokianga. “The chief Wi Hau, a well-known and useful servant of the Government, is the seller and is anxious to establish a settlement,” Mr Kemp had written. Mr Reynolds maintained that statements had not been made in good faith by Mr Kemp. Mr Reynolds was still addressing the commission when the adjournment was taken. The hearing will resume at 9.30 on Monday. He will call several witnesses, after wjiich Mr G. Blomfield, of Auckland, will address and call witnesses. He will be followed by Mr Meredith. It is expected that the case will continue into Wednesday, and the commission made arrangements to begin the first surplus lands claim on Thursday morning.