MOKAU LAND CASE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14523, 19 August 1911, Page 7

MOKAU LAND CASE.

PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY OPENED. ORDER OF PROCEDURE SETTLED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON", August 8. The enquiry into tho Alokau irini transaction ordered by Parliament jyas commenced before tho Native- Attatrs Committee to-day. Air (iismaruuui) presided. Tho other members of the committee are Sir James Carroll, Messrs Ngut;>, Heir.es, Dive, Seddon, MacdouaAl, To itaiigihiroa, Mander and Parata. . Mr Massey, iu reply to a question by the cnairman, saiu he did not wantto narrow the inquiry in a'<y way Through his six.-ci.ii ho" had been made a party to the matter, and lie was prepared to submit certain names ot men who he suggested shou.d b<> called at witnesses. iii>:so ho road. Sir James Carroll urged that Mr Massey should give a lead and intimate the points on whiuh the enquiry should proceed. - ' Air Massey said he did not want tho enquiry to be narrowed, but he was quite prepared to make a statement. Mr Ngata suggested that Air Alassey might make his statement then. • Mr Massey replied that he had very Kttle'more to say, beyond what he had stated in the House. Sir James Carroll pointed out that he had replied to those statements, and he would like Air Alassvy to take Shit.reply and show any oWropanc'es Si his rnsivors to the statements made. " Mr Massey suggested that the order of procedure should be the other way. • Sir James Carrol!: But I have anprered vour statements. ; Mr Massey: 1 submit not. Sir James: Then it is for you to say •wherein I have failed. : ; The chairman agreed with Sir James, and Air Massey assented. •' Sir.James said this would start the enquiry with definite details. Mr Herries hoped this would not result iu the enquiry being limited in ony way. Sir James said it would uot. The Committee however had to have someBring definite to go' upon. .- The chairman, to Air Massey': Are jon prepared now to go on? ' Mr Massey: No, but I will be .prepared to make a statement at tho nest meeting of the committee. Mr Massey hsd previously intimated that he proposed to call Alessrs Joshua Jones and the chairman of the Maniapoto Land Board (who will be asked

to protiiu-o iniiruies and correspoml{•nciji. iienmum Lewis, H. 1). l»eU, To Whit., McDonald (Otuki), and D. H. Har<iv (surveyor, Te Kuiti). The commit lee will meet again on, Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock, when tiro u'itu esses named will be in attendance, and after Mr Massey h&s liis statement Mr Jones "will be cfllled.