NATIVE AFFAIRS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22267, 21 May 1934, Page 7

NATIVE AFFAIRS

—-—. ♦ i—i—■ FURTHER EVIDENCE HEARD PURCHASES OF STOCK (Peb United Press Association.) ROTORUA, May 19. The Native , Affairs Commission was occupied for the greater part of the morning with further evidence on the question of the stock dealings of D. D. \Vilson, of. Hamilton, with the Native Department., . . -,. Henry Burgess • Luxford, stock manager of Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co., at Hamilton, in evidence, said he considered Wilson an expert buyer of stock. He sold: one line of bulls to Wilson in July, 1932, at approximately 10 guineas, but between tb.6 date of the sale and September a sharp: rise in prices occurred. Witness considered that the bulls in September were worth 10 guineas each. Previous evidence nad been. given that these bulls had been Sold by Wilson to the Native Department at 14. guineas and bought at 10 guineas. Witness admitted that his firm could have, bought the bulls on the same terms as Wilson. Wilson, recalled,-said he : was. unable to produce the books showing his dealings, although he admitted that he had previously said that he would be able to do so. He explained tliat.he had made a search, but owing to the fact that tbe books were in store with Ids furniture he had been unable to find them. all. .. The chairman said, that: the ..witness must not trifle with the commission and must produce the full records by Monday afternoon, together with the accountant who, he stated, had prepared his books and could produce his income tax returns and bank books.

G. P. Shepherd, chief clerk in the department, said that he bad no personal knowledge of Wilson's dealings, •which the Native Minister had kept entirely in his own hands. Witness admitted that he personally did not consider that the system of stock buying disclosed was prudent, but he had had no opportunity of changing it. . In his:opinion it would have been, preferable for an officer of the department to do the buying, but a suitable one was not available at the ' time.