MOKAU LANDS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 49, 12 October 1911, Page 6

MOKAU LANDS.

SIR JAMES CARROLL AND MR, MASSEY.

(Per Press Association.)

Wellington, October 12

At the meeting of the Mokau Committee this morning Sir James Carroll asked Dir. Massey to explain his reference at Levin, “That what had been sold had been the right to exploit the settlers, was done by virtue of tlie wretched little provision which had been slipped into the Native Land Act to permit of an Or-der-in-Council. This was the sort of thing that was happening.” Sir dames Carroll thought it only fair to the Government that this question should be asked, as the paragraph directly charged the Government with having specially designed this clause. Mr. Massey denied having said so, but stated that when the head of the Department had been examined he asked the question whether the clause in question was designed to meet this case, and witness said “No.” Mr. Massey, however, said tiiat in his opinion the power was one which should not lio there, lie himself was away from the House when the danse was inserted, lint, anyway, it was customary to leave native Bills to the Native Committee, and he would probably not have noticed it. This was all the evidence taken.