MINE INQUIRY OVER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7292, 23 November 1910, Page 1

MINE INQUIRY OVER

COMMITTEE ADJOURNS Will DELIBERATE TO-DAY AN INTERESTING RETURN The whole of tho evidence in connection with, tho "Tammany'’ allegations ivrconcluded yesterday, be loro the special ILoaso of Representative-* committee* appointed to inquire into the charges of the member for Stratford. All members of the committee were present, ami Mr J. A. Ha nan (Invercargill) was in the oh ai r. Mr M. My era (Boil, Gully, 8011, and Myers) appeared on behalf of Mr Hinc; and Mr C. I'. Skerrett; K.C. (Chapman. Skerrott, Wylie, and Tripp), with him Mr F. B. Sharp, as counsel for the Hon. T. K. Macdonald. The commit too had hoard all of the 'evidence (including that for the defence) in every charge except that against the Government in connection with the acquisition of tho FUixbourno Estate, Marlborough, formerly the property of tlio Clifford family. Tho Prime Minister presented the promised return, showing the saving to the country that had resulted from the efforts of the late Sir John Mackenzie and the late Bight lion. Mr Soddon in connection ■with tho compulsory acquisition of estates : SAVING TO THE COUNTRY. Compulsory acquisition of estates by the Government under tho Lunds for bettie-

Tho Prime Minister remarked upon the fact that this return showed an amount £‘502,916 in favour of the country. Hr Massey; If the State was going to acquire compulsorily from me I would Aisk for three times tho value. Mr Allen: Is it put in here with some object? What is the object of it? This would have been all right. on the table of the Mouse. We are not inquiring into the©© estates, or the value of them. Mr Massey: The object of it is to make ■political capital out of it. Everybody understands that. Tho Prime Minister: I am afraid a great deal of evidence has been brought in during this inquiry for the purposes of political capital, by those who are opposed to the Government. Mr Fraser: And by those who were on the other side, too. The Prime Minister: No, we were dealing with facts. . Mr Frovser: Oti I The chairman (referring to tho return.}: Better let it go in. THE UNPAID FEE. James? Prank Andrews, secretary to the Cabinet, was called by the Prime Minister, to produce tho following Cabinet minute in regard to a claim made by Mr ■ Macdonald for assessor's' fees, in connection with his services during tho Flaxbourne case:—

Sir Joseph Ward submitted request for payment for services as assessor in tho Flaxhoiirn© arbitration case of the Hon. T. Tv. Macdonald, based on a payment of between >£soo and £OOO, which Mr Macdonald stated had been paid by the Cliffords for their assessor in the same ease. Mr Macdonald urged that as assessor ho had saved the country .£30,000. Sir Joseph, Word minuted the request as follows: FOR CABINET. I have already personally declined this to Mr Macdonald, as there is no record of any arrangement with the fate Mr Scddon. ' (.Signed) J. G. WARD, 20/5/1008. IN CABINET. 23rd May, lf>oß. ■ Decline payment. (Signed) J. F. ANDREWS. Acting Secretary. I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the Cabinet minute in connection with the claim iu the Flaxbourno Estate. (Signed) J. F. ANDREWS, Secretary to Cabinet. Tho Prime Minister; I do not propose to rail Mr Barron.. The chairman: Well, that concludes the evidence. The committee then < adjourned, to .meet again at 10.30 o'clock this morning, for the purpose of deliberating upon tho evidence, and drawring up a report.

ment Act:— Estate. , Ardtfoivan Price paid. £ 3-4300 111,303 2.9,092 Price asked. JE ■15.890 228,590 37,390 Forestgate 48,521 ‘ 142,262 55,571 134,993 Matamata Lindsay Flaxbouruo ' 127,515 05,300 131,675 18,502 157.717 115,878 335,000 23,655 T'TLlV*'! ■, 34.133 72,100 Te Arai 113.919 121,231 131.329 162,637 70,900 Carrington 39,310 Totals I.. Deduct paid . •£1.127,6-42 231,830,538* 1,127,642, Difference .£502,916