MOKAU LAND CASE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15273, 13 October 1911, Page 3

MOKAU LAND CASE.

MR AIASSEY EXPLAINS. tl'tn U*tT*t> I'hisfl AsiocuiioiM WELLINGTON, October 12. Before the .Mukmi Committee this morni';g, Sir James Carroll asked Mr Masse.y to explain his refuence at Levin " that whal had hee.u sold hud been the right to exploit the settlers, and it wa« done by virtue of a wretched little provision which bad been slipped into the N*l L ive Land Act to permit of an Order-in-Cauncil, This wan the sort of thing that was happening." Sir ,1. Carroll thought it only fair to the Government that this question should be nsked, as the paragraph directly charged the Government with having specially designed this clause. Mr Massey denied having said so, but stated that when the head of the department had been examined he asked the question whether the clause in question was designed t<j meet this case, and ihe witness said No.' 1 Mr Mas.scy, however, said that, in his opii/ion, the power was one which should not be there. He himself was away from the House when the clause was inserted, but, anyway, it was customary 10 leave Native Bills to the Native Affairs Coinmii'ee, and ho Would probably not hnve noticed it. This was all the evidence taken.