N.S.W. LAND SCANDAL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 145, 25 July 1914, Page 9

N.S.W. LAND SCANDAL.

PURCHASE OF AN ESTATE LEGISLATORS AS AGENTS, I "AN INDISCREET THING." PLEA OF INEXPERIENCE. - By CabU.—Prett Association. — Copyright. {Received July. 25, 9.50 aim.) * j SYDNEY, July 25.. ' The Boorabil Commission has opened. The evidence of the agents for the sale of the property to the Government for closer settlement purposes was to the effect that when it appeared . likely that the sale would not go t through, Mr Osborne and Mr Jones were approached, the idea being that in. their positions as a memb'er and an exmember of Parliament, they would have better access for- the pushing of the sale : forward than the. land.agents,who were forbidden to interview thd* Department officers. Certain, :eonimifsion was promised to thenv. ■■•■ -mi Mr Osborne and Mr Jones, were examined as to the detailed :'texm&;of•.•the agreement, and their interview's with Ministers and others. Mr Jones r in reply to the. Commission- / er's question, whether it.was his in- '-?■: •fiuenee-.that was bought, said: ''lt may • be that) or it may.be the access to Min- ■■•"•• isteVs that we had.".. .. ,- • Mr Osborne, in reply.to a question; .' said he did not think they had any ; more influence, or pull, so far'ias'the < Government was than ;any other reputable citizen. ■ Mr Osborne admitted that it- ; was an indiscreet thing to give a vote in Par- - iiament on a matter, in "which' he was . • pecuniarily interested, but said "he wis y. inexperienced in such things. •' [Recently Mr Osborne, a menfber of the Assembly, and Mr G. A. ex-member, sued the agent for the sale of the Boorabil Estate to the, Govern- .'; mentfor closer settlement purposes, for £2OO commission. A verdict-was returned in plaintiffs' faxour. ; .As a re- v suit of Press 'criticisms in regard to legislators acting as agents, Cabinet, at. a protracted sitting, decided to appoint ~ a Royal Commission of Enquiry. Parliament subsequently passed an Amend- ; ing Bill, widening the powers of the judge enquiring into the charges to tbe<yq-«* full power of. a Supreme Court Judge.}\> c