The Mokau Scandal.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 22, Issue 93, 1 December 1911, Page 7

The Mokau Scandal.

Wellington, Nov. 29. Speaking at Fitzroy to-night, Mr Okey, M.P., ventilated a phase of the Mokau transaction which has not yet received attention, owing to the Native Affairs Committee’s report having only just come to hand (says the correspondent of the “ Domin* ion”). ' It is not generally known, he said, that the block pm chased by Mr Herrman Lewis, by virtue of an Order-in-Oouncil, includes in its freehold title, under the,Land Transfer Act, areas amounting to over 5000 acres of what recently were Crown lands. Many years ago certain surveys were made on the Mokau-Mobakatino Block, and as their cost was not forthcoming liens were obtained by the Commissioner of Crown lands under instructions from the Surveyor-General, and charging orders were granted by the Native Land Court to cover surveys amounting to £llO2, together with interest (£367). Section's totalling 5021 acres were set apart as security, and marked Crown lands on the official plan, only requiring the official proclamation to . become available for settlement. Yet, to-day, they are included in the freehold title held by Mr MoNab’s com* pany, to whom they have been sold by the Government privately, and without affording to settlers any opportunity of competing. Mr Skinner, of the Lands Department, estimated the value of the whole block, including these 5021 acres, at 18s 9d per acre, or, deducting 8s for survey and reading, at 10s 9d, which makes 5021 acres, worth £2698' Mr Obey, however, believed that these sections were worth at least 80s., or £7531, and it was more than probable that they would have realised, on the open market, quite £2, or £10,012. Yet the Government sold them for £1469 oh 16th August, or 5s lOd per acre. When Parliament rose these lands were still the property of the Crown, but, on 20fch November, eight days ago, the liens on the title were cancelled, and they became the freehold of Mr M'Nab’s company. Continuing, Mr Obey said that an attempt would doubtless be made to show that these lands were subject to Mr Jones’ lease, and, therefore, were not available for settlement, but the real position was that the Crown had the freehold, as shown by the official plan, and could, at any time, have made the land available for puolic disposal. Instead ol that the Govern ment have sold outright to private people without public competition at gs lOd per acre lauds which would have been readily purchased by the people of New Zealand at not less than 80s per acre. >