MAORI LAND SETTLEMENT

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3469, 22 May 1934, Page 5

MAORI LAND SETTLEMENT

DEVELOPMENT SCHEME INQUIRY. MORE ABOUT BULL PURCHASES. - ; - ?? A At a- recent sitting of the Native Affairs Commission, at Rotorua, the evidence cf D. D. Wilson, of Hamilton, described as a stock dealer and veterinarian detailed his activities in the purchase of bulls in various parts of the Wiaikato for the Minister of Native Affairs in connection with the native lands development schemes, principally in the Rotorua and North Auckland districts.. Further evidence on this subject was given before the Commission last Saturday, when Henry B. Luxford, stock manager for Wright. Stephenson and Co., Ltd., at, Hamilton,, said he had sold bulls to Mr D. D. Wilson in either July or August, 1932. Wilson, who had a good knowledge of stock in the Waikato district had gone to witness because those who owned the bulls were clients of witness’ firm. He had known that Wilson had bought bulls at 10 guineas for forward delivery. Between the time of Wilson’s purchase and-the sale on September 15 witness thought the 20 bulls would have increased in value to 18 to 20 guineas. The bulls had been bought on a sharply-rising market. Under cross-examination by Mr Quilliam witness said that Mr Wilson had had dealings with him for five or six years and with the exception of three large sales, he thought that most cf the transactions had been in respect of rjdd blasts. Mr Quilliam pointed out that there was evidence that the transfers of the animals for North Auckland had been made before the national sale at which prices showed improvement. In reply to Mjr Alexander witness said there was nothing to prevent an agent of the Native Department going to vendors and making the purchases. BOOKS MUST BE PRODUCED. David Wilson, who was recalled after he had been given an opportunity of going- to .Hamilton and procuring his records of sales to the Native Department, said he had been unable to place his hands cn his records. He had moved his residence since the time of transactions and his records were stored in Hamilton, together with his furniture. He had locked for the best part of an hour and had not been able to find all his books. As he. did not have them in entirety he had not brought any at all.. . - : • Witness denied that, he was trifling with the Commission. The Chairman: Ycu said you would produce your books to the comifiissiori and you come here with an excuse like that. Witness: That excuse is the truth. . The Chairman: I think you had better find them and bring them here. Mr Quilliam: Are these books_ in existence at all? —Witness: All my books are in existence. Mr Quilliam: So that a search in a few hours will find them ?—Witness replied in the affirmative and in answer to the chairman said he thought he could produce his books and records from 1928 onwards on Monday. THE MINISTER SOLELY RESPONSIBLE. -i George Patrick Shepherd chief clerk of the Native Department was examined by Mr Quilliam in respect.to a statement prepared by him which set out correspondence relating .--to stock'transactions with Mr Wilson. Witness said he personally had had nothing to do with the transactions, although he would see the files afterwards. On the instructions of the Minister he had sent telegrams and letters but no one at the head office had had anything to do with the actual transactions. They had been dealt with by the Minister personally. Witness continued that he had said to the Minister on one occasion, “Why did you buy that stock? ” and had been* told he did not understand stock. Had witness had his own ~way he would have preferred the work being carried cut by an officer of the department. Representations to that effect, however, had not been made to the Minister. It was a rule of the office that every purchase had to have the Minister’s approval. Had of stock been in his own hands said witness, he would have had another system. ROTORUA, This Day,. Before the adjournment of Monday’s sitting of the commission Mir N. S. Johnson, counsel for Mr D. D. Wilson, handed into the commission his client’s cash book and bank pass book for the period from October, 1931, to October, 1933. The com,mission had previously asked for the books, as it desired information in connection with Mr Wilson’s stock transactions with the Native Department. *