OPEN COUNCIL.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XIV, Issue 1190, 24 October 1904, Page 2

OPEN COUNCIL.

yrhe Editor Ma&f r«poB«bl« for •piniOM exprewed by correapondtata.]

" Whoever knew the trntli p«t <jo the wowe in a free and open encounter. "•-

PAEROA LEASEHOLDS;

SIR-r-Permit^nie>io thank you for your kindly reference to the allegation made by Messrs Duncan and Stddon that two years ago I was the cause of the Paeroa freeholds being deferred. -1 hare of course nothing to do with the Government Private Intelligence Department which so often misleads Minister^ What I wish to say is this:; i. The Minister of Lands a year ago promised to sell the freehold to the lessees; 1 In purauanca of this promise the Commissioner of Grtwn Lands eight months ago sent circulars to alUhe lessees asking them to surrender their leases preparatory to their sections being advertised for sale; a A ritimber of the lessees did surrender their leases; 4. Some of these lessees have arranged to borrow th» money to purchase the freehold; 5. I hire repeatedly during the last six months asked the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the Minister for Lands to le| me know when the sale is to tajke place; (J. The only answer J caji obtain from the Minister of l»ands is that the matter is beinJEJ "considered." lam beginning to feel I that there yiji, little difference between indefinitely postponing the carrying out of a promise and repudiating it altogether.—t am, etc, :.,.-■;, -•.,: V ( ,Ki:;; ; :V:JL€j.;B.;,Moss.- >■ Wellington, 19th October, 1904.