THE ALLEGED CASES OP DUMMYISM.

Otago Witness, Issue 1639, 21 April 1883, Page 19

THE ALLEGED CASES OP DUMMYISM.

At Wednesday's meeting of the Land Board, the question of issuing licenses to purchasers at the recent sale of pastoral deferred-payment land was again brought.under consideration, on the application of two of the purchasers to have their licenses issued.

Mr Roberts (of Murray, Roberts, and Co.) said he had been asked to identify Mr Thomas Popham, who took up one of the pastoral deferred-payment sections in Strath-Taieri at the recent sale. Popham acted for himself, but paid his deposit with a cheque signed by Murray, Roberts, and Co. He wished to explain how that occurred. Tho firm at the time owed Popham a considerable amount of money for cattle and other things bought from him. He was apparently a man with plenty of means, as he always left a considsrable balance standing to his name. Before the sale, Popham came to him and askediiim for a chequo, which he gave, for £300. He afterwards returned, and substituted one for tho exact amount of his deposit Mr Popham was a settler at Strath-Taieri, his farm having originally formed part of his (Mi- Roberts') run. He was satisfied that Mr Popham was a bona fide settler.

Thomas Popham made the following statement to the Board :— At the last land sale I acted for myself, and although the deposit chequa was signed by Murray, Roberts, and Co., there was money due to ma for cattle. I have masons and fencers on the ground now, and it will be a great disadvantage to me if I am not allowed to take up the land at once and go on with the work. Mr Stout : Where are you settled now ?— Just across the river, on a section which I own..

I bought that section 10 or 11 years ago, whea the first block waß opened on the StrathTaieri. I have about 475 acres freehold, I purchased 948 acres at the late sale of pastora! deferred-payment land for my own use. Mr Stout: Had you a conversation with anyone before you purchased ?— Not at all. I did not bid for any other sections. I had opposition when I was bidding for my Bection. Mr Cargill bid against me, and someone else at tha start. No one know I was going to purchase the land until 24 hours before the sale. ■ I havo made no agreement with anybody toagist theip cattle or to keep their cattle. I bought th« land only for my own purposes. The Chikp Commissioner : You will not b« required to attend again, and the Board will give a decision on your application thia daj week.

John S. Nichol also appeared in person for his license, and said : I bought seotion 2, block I, Sutton district (1086 .acres), at the late aale of pastoral deferredpayment land. I bought for myself; and paid my own deposit. I gave 32a 6d per acre. I bid the upset, and no one elae bid against me. I have seen the land, and hara known it for the last 20 years. I have been butchering at Outram for the last fivetyears. I bought the land for my own use, and I hay« timber there now to build a house. I have no agreement with anyone for agisting their cattle or occupying the land. I have bought stock to put on the land, and I have to tak« delivery in a fortnight. The Chief Commissioner: You need not attend again. The Board will give a decision next week.

The Chief Commissioner brought under th* notice of the Board the position of the pui * chasers at the recent sale of pastoral deferredpayment land who were not included in the resolution passed at last meeting. It seemed to be the opinion of the Board that all tl • purchasers should apply to the Board before licenses were issued to them. Should notice be given to them that that was the decision of the Board ?

Mr Gkebn thought every purchaser should come before the Board, and the Board/could question them if they thought necessary. The Gbiev Commissionkb said the resolution .passed by the Board did not say that. Ife only referred to 10 sections, and a notice' with reference to the matter should be put into the newspapers. i Mr Duncan did not think anyone would look upon it aa a hardship to come before the Board. The purchasers could go on with their business with confidence that they would get licenses if they were bona fide. ' ~' Mr BBADSHAW though they certainly ought to have notice that it waß necessary for them to come before the Board, otherwise they iroald not know that they had to do so. Mr G-hekn poiutod out that if a man proceeded to improve his land, it would be the strongest proof that he was a bona fide pur. chaser. He did not think they need care how much trouble they gave the men who were nob bona fide aettlera. Bona fide settlers would have, no trouble.

Mr Clark asked why should thay puniak the innocent as well aa the guilty. Mr Green replied, because they had not yet got hold of the guilty. Mr Dunoax did not think they were punishing anyone.

Mr CtARK thought it would be a great-hard-ship to make men travel perhaps 100 miles to attend a meeting of the Board. Mr Green thought it would be sufficient if tho purchasers' agents attended. As yet tho agents had not come to the Board. In the meantime he was not prepared to say that he required every principal to attend. Mr Clark pointed out that the Board said that was to be done. 0 Mr Grkkn did not see that when an agent refused to do so the principal should come. The Chief Commissioner thought the purchasers should know what the Board-expected them to do. Would the Board direct him to advertise?

Mr Green did not see any necessity for advertising. When a man made application for a licence, the Board would hear what he had to say. Mr Donoan said a > doubt was thrown over these purchases which had never occurred before, and he was sure no bona, fid«. settler would think it a hardship to wait on th» Board.

Mr Green said he had had conversations with men who woro bona fide Bettlers, and they told him they thought the Boar.l was acting rightly, and that they would be glad to render the Board whatever assistance they could to clear up evisting doubts and to detect dummies. He had now very little doubt that they would be able to prove there had been an attempt to evade the provisions of the Act. At first ho was afraid they would not be able to do so.

Mr Clark thought they should not punish innocent persons, as they would be doing by making them come to the Board and beg for what they had a right to. Of course they wero all at one with regard to the necessity of punishing dummies if there were any. The Chief Commissioner said that if it was understood the Board wished every purchaser at the land sale to come before the Board, of course there was an end of it. He had only sent notices to those to whom the Board had taken exception. Mr Grekn saw no necessity for minuting anything. All the bona jlde. men would apply. No minute was recorded.