NATIVE LANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 22, 20 July 1911, Page 5

NATIVE LANDS.

MR. MASSEY'S ACCUSATIONS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Auckland, Last Night. Mr. Massey leader of the Oppositios, addressed a largely attended meeting in the Choral Hall this evening. The building was filled and a large number of people, estimated at about a thousand, were unable to obtain admission.

Mr. Massey, who had an enthusiastic reception and an excellent hearing, outlined the Opposition platform on the 1 lines of 'his Wellington and other speeches. The platform, he declared, was the most liberal, the most democratic, and the most progressive that had ever been put forward by any political party in this country. In speaking on the native land question, he repeated his previous remarks regarding the transaction in respect to the Mokau lands, and went on to say that the firm of lawyers who acted for the individual who purchased the lands from 1 the natives was that of Messrs. Findlay, Dalzieil, and Co.—("Oh!")—The gentleman who signed the Ordcr-in-Obun-©li was Sir Jas. Carroll, Acting-Prime Minister, whilst the chairman of the syndicate was an ex-Minister of Lands with strong leasehold proclivities, Mr. R. McNab.—("Oh!")—Since .then he understood the syndicate had been permitted to acquire a further area of some 17,000 acr&=, making a total of about 70,000 acres. Why was this, syndicate permitted to acquire tihis large area? Why was,not a sufficient area reserved for the use of the natives? Not a single acre had been reserved' for the natives. Why was not the land submitted to auction or tender? He intended to press for an enquiry into why the land was allowed to pas* into the possession of a gang of speculators. Sir Jas. Carroll had said *hat he (Mr. Massey) knew nothing about native lands. He thanked God' that he did not know as much about these lands m the Acting-Prime Minister. Neither he nor any other member of the Opposition had ever trafficked in native lands;

The following motion, proposed by Mr. E. G. B. Moss (ex-M.P.), and seconded by Mr. J. J. Rutherford, was carried amidst applause: "That this meeting of Auckland citizens' thanks Mr. Massey heartily for his interestintj and lucid exposition of the political situation, and congratulates hiim upon the able and statesmanlike policy he has unfolded on behalf of the Opposition party, and wishes him every success in his desire to secure a more economical administration and genuine reform in the Government of the Dominon."

An amendment that Mr. Massey be} thanked only was not seconded. /