THE MOKAU CASE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12588, 19 October 1911, Page 5

THE MOKAU CASE.

COMMITTEE FINDS ALLEGATIONS

GROUNDLESS,

(Prom our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day v I The report of the Native Affairs Committee[' m* the Mokau- lands transaction was' presented to the House ihis afternoon. The committee^ finds that the statement of the Government as to the details of the transaction .presented to Parliament earlier m the session correctly sets put .the facts relating to the GoVeriime'nt's ' asfjociatipn with the] case. As to Mr Massey's statement of the position, already published; the committee says that it 6brrectly sets out the facts except (lj the statement that the limitation previsions of the Native Land Act "• were avbided by the issue of an Order-in-Council, whereas m fact the Order-in-Council, was issued pursuant .to such limitation provisions ; (2) the"- statement tliatHhe meeting! of native, owh^rß was not properly representative! was disproved ; (3) the statement to the. effect that' the company or riiehibers of the company will possess practically cL' j monopoly of coal-vending* areas on thei west coast of the Taranaki provincial district was contrary to the evidence prodnced-.before. .the committee. The report of the committee goes on to say that the only additional facts which 'the committee deems it necessary to refet'vto" axe' that the lessee finally acquired the interest of the natives m the blocks for .the sum of £25,000 m cash arid the Bum °* £2500 m fully paid-' up Bhareß m a conjpapy.'.having a capital of , £100,000, forriied- to acquire the Mokau-Mokakatino -•*' mocks and other properties. This company paid m cash and!, shares m its' 'Capiial .the sum of £85,000' to Mi" Masdn r Cha,mbers for tho Mokau-Mokakatino blocks,' Mr" " Mason Chambers haying purchased from tho lessee, Mr Herriialri'Le'wi's, the sariie property for the sdm^o! £^1,000, in cash and £4000 m fully paid-up 'shares m the company. The sum paid sto the natives for .their interest iri tlie laiul ovds greater than the acturial value of the interests of the natives' burdened with -"She lessees, assuming the purchase money obtained by . thb' lessee ' i*6 v be' the yalue of thc block. ' Suggestions we're made before the committee reflecting upon oertahidepartmental officers .concerned iri this : transaction , s . } but .^he cenjmittee report that it is ss£sfieq~ .that t lhese suggestions were i entirely disproved, and that the transaction ' was" Conducted throughout by the depanriientui' officers' strictly m accordance with the Native' Land Act and : regulationst '■•