MR. MINE'S CHARGES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 978, 19 November 1910, Page 3

MR. MINE'S CHARGES.

0 ■ FLAXBOURNE CASE. MR. WILSON'S SPECIAL REPORT. SOME REMARKABLE EVIDENCE. VALUATION WORK: A QUESTION OF TIME. The Hine Allegations Committee was again occupied yesterday with tlie l'laxbourne case, in which, it is alleged that tho Government, in or about tho year 1904, engaged Mr. A. L. Wilson to. make a casual inspection of the l'laxbourne Estate, Marlborough, and paid him ail extravagant fco for so doing, tho real objcct being to indirectly remunerate his business partner, the Hon. T. K. Macdonald, M.L.C., who acted as assessor in the compensation case, and, being a member of the Legislature, could not legally re^? IV6 P a ? men t for that service. Mr. J. A. Hanan presided. Mr. M. Alters appeared for Mr. J. B. Hine, M.P., and Mr. Skcrrctt, K.C., for tlio Hon. T. K. .Macdonald. Almost the whole of the sitting was spent in the examination of ono witness, but tho questions touched on many points, and tho chairman several times reproved committco members and counsel for not keeping strictly to the matter of tho charge. . Mr. Wilson Recalled. Alexander Lorimer Wilson, recalled ■by Mr. Myers, saitl that tho £IGS ,which ho received for his - special report on Flaxbourno .was not put by him through any banking account, so far as he could ascertain. Macdonald, Wilson and Co. had no separate banking account for moneys earned by services for tho Government. When ho went to Flaxbourne, he was driven out' there by Mr. M'Callum, and was met by Mr. Griffin. _ Mr. Skerrett objected to tho questions. Mr. Myers said ho wished to ask Mr./"Wilson about a conversation with Mr. Griffin, but as the committco seemed to support Mr. Skerrett's objection, he would at once call Mr. Griffin. ' When Mr. Wilson Arrived. William Edwin Griffin, land valuer and agent, Napier, said ho was for eleven years employed by tho Government, whoso service he left about fifteen months ago. His position in 1903-4, and 1905 was that of district valuer for Hawko's Bay. Ho still did some work for tho Government. Ho had prepared cases for Compensation Courts on behalf of tlio Government,' both before Flaxbourne case and about tho same time. Ho obtained some of the witnesses, and ju tho Hawke's Bay.cases all tho witnesses. Ho first visited Flaxbourno in July or August, 1903. Ho went thero with Messrs.. A. ,-RLyons and Qliafrey. He organised and took charge of a camp in conjunction with Mr. Greville, and took the witnesses over tho property. They made their own reports, which lie saw./ Ho'had a camp there. Mr. Wilson arrived at Flaxbourno on a Sunday at about midday with Mr. ' M'Callum. and. Mr. M'Naugliton (of Wairarapa). Tho camp was in its usual placo in the plantation '■ by tho liomostead. It had been placed there on the preceding Friday or Saturday. There were a douen or more men in the camp. They were witnesses, or. prospective witnesses for. tlio Compensation Court. Alleged Remarkable conversation. Are you ablo to say how long Mr. Wilson remained at Flaxbourne?—"He arrived on Sunday, at midday. . He spent the Monday on horseback with the rest of us. He made a. valuation of the buildings on' 'tho Tuesday, and lie went away cither on tho Tuesday night or tho Wednesday morning." That was the total length of his stay on Flaxbourne?—"Yes." Did you know bim prior to that Sunday?—" No. I had never seen him." Who introduced him?—" Mr.. M'Callum!" Did you know what lie liad.como for? —"I asked him, and told him I could only give him a horse on the following' day, because wo . wero' very short of horses. I had wired to Mr. M'Callum, who was tho junior counsel in the case, that if lie brought any witnesses ho must bring bedding and horses for them. . Mr. M'Naugliton brought a horse with him, led behind tho buggy. Mr. - Wilson did not'. I told him I could only let liim have a horse on tho following day, because tho horse was tired, and had to be returneu on Monday night. Ho said: 'Don't bother about me. I don't want to sco the country. I am going to mako a report. I am doing this because my partner is acting as assessor without payment.' So I t-ook no further trouble with Mr. Wilson, but I believe he got some information from Mr. Greville." , The-Report. How long would it tako any valuer to go over the estato? —"I don't think any man made a thorough inspection in less than oleven fine days." Was it possible for Mr. Wilson to mako a report after tho time he spent there?—"ft was quite impossible -to, make a report that would be of any use in tho Court." Did you ever see his report?—" No." Did you sco the reports of tho other valuers?—" Yes. I saw them all." Did ho say for whom ho was making his report?—"He said if was for Mr. Seddon." j And of the two and a half or possibly three days ho spent there, do I understand you to say that ho spoilt | one day in looking over tho buildings ? j —"I don't know what ho did after I looking at them. Tlio buildings might tako him half a day." Did ho see tho country on foot?— "No." "Not Came to Approach the House." To Mr. Skerrett: During his connection with Flaxbourne he saw Dr. Findlay very seldom. -The latter only came to Blenheim once, but witness met him in Wellington each time lie (witness) went through the city. Witness's valuations iu compensation coses had been in nearly every case the highest of tlio witnesses called for tho Government, and very near what was finally-award-ed. Ho mado his reports and gavo his ovidenco in an independent manner, and ho believed other witnesses did tho same. Ho had no notes, but was speaking from recollection. They all at tlio camp asked Mr. Wilson to valuo the buildings, becauso none of them wero game to approacli the house. It was a very unpleasant task-, and as Mr. Wilson had nothing to do, and did not want to do anything, they thought it would be very, suitable for him to do so." Then the people on tho estate hud the opinion that the witnesses were doing their duty impartially?—" They had at one time, but they wore claimants." You are not now a Government officer?—" No. I was retrenched. I i should call it dismissed." | i Witness also said that Sir Robert Stout occupied five days in looking at i tho property. Ho drovo round it. , Judge* Cooper rodo touud .it in five' days, and mado a report. He did not | know of any witness who made a report after an inspection of five days I 'only. ' | I Did Not Complain. [ To Sir Joseph Ward; Tlio late Mr. ! Seddon was tlio Minister in charge, I but he. thought Mi\ Duucan was in I chargo part of tho time. He did not'

get paid for at least a. year after his i work thero was done. Ho took bis instructions entirely from Dr. Findlay. that the Government paid tor l'laxbourne was a very little higher than witness's valuation. Do you consider the purchase of. tho estato was a good one, so far as value was cpiiceniccl?—"l thought at the time tho Government had given the lull value, but I have since been told 't has turned out very well." Did- you mako any complaint to Dr. l'indlay about, the shortness of Mr. , Wilson's stay?—" No. I had nothing to complain of. I was extremely glad he did not want a horse." Did you mako any representation to Mr. Seddon or Dr. Findlay about it? — I think. I probably mentioned Mr. Wilson's visit to Dr. Findlay." ion did not report in writing to . either tho Minister or Dr. Findlav? — "No." Having admitted that his own valua- ' tions had sometimes differed considcr- . ably from those of other valuers, the witness was asked hy tho Primo Minister: Would not the Government be justified in obtaining an independent report?—"l can't imagine a report of 1 any value being mado after a visit of two days." That's not my ' question.—"l don't think any report was made that was not independent." Would not the Minister who was negotiating for an estato for ' which £410,000 was claimed, or the . counsel who was in chargo of the case, bo justified, however high an opinion they had of the valuer, and oven if ho was a Government official, in getting an independent report?—" All tho reports were independent." Weil, a separate report?—"lt would only add one more to the number of reports already in tho Minister's possession." .. . "No Whisky." To Mr. Millar: Ho would not deny that ho received £395 for his services at Flaxbourne. None of his vouchers were rejected, and no items on them were refused. I think one voucher shows ■ some . items struck off. Did you claim for any whisky?—" No.". No whisky on your vouchers? —"No whisky on my vouchers." The Minister examined the witness as to the remuneration' of somo of the other valuers, and tho time they devoted to inspecting tho estate, but the figures were in somo cases disputed. Eventually all the vouchers were put in at tho Minister's request. Do you think £165 would bo a fair remuneration for a man who mado a valuation and report, and for his partner, who actcd as assessor? —"I should say the report was not worth anything, and the £165. would not .'represent the payment of tho assessor." Wero all tho valuers: acting for the Government competent men?—"No, I wondered much at tho appointment of somo of them." Witness also said Sir Robert Stout's inspection of the property would not bo for valuation purposes.' Ho thought Sir 'Robert weilt on horseback one day. The Witness and Dr. Findlay. To Mr. Reed:. Ho mentioned to Dr. Findlay that 'Mr. Wilson had spent a couple of days there ,and ho.(witness) remarked', "i 1 don't suppose lie's going to be called?" Dr. Findlay replied, "Oh. no." '■ To Mr. Buchanan: As eleven days' inspection would be required for-an ordinary report, a still longer inspection should precodo a special confidential ■ report. , ■ To the chairman: Ho could not fix by recollection tlio' periods tho other valuers stayed at the Flaxbourne, becauso thero'-was ■ nothing extraordinary about their visits. - They probably saw 3000 or '1000 acres when Mr. Wilson,: with -witness and others, rodo about the property tosether. Ho did not think Mr, Wilson could have, seen any more. , Camp Expenses. Mr. Millar drew attention t-o a voucher showing that R. Rogerson had claimed for ".Camp services, 34 days, £35 145., and stores, £5 145." A report on tho voucher stated: "This account, Avh.cn first presented, included a chargo for 10 gallons of whisky, soda water, cards, etc., and that amount 'audit refused .to pass. The charge forRogcrson's servico ' is now 'excessive: Messrs. Grevillo and Griffin are paid travelling allowance, and should pay their own mess charges."- In regard to another claim it was stated: "Mr.' Griffin's chargo is excessive." , Witness admitted the claim, hut said his . charges . wero not excessivoi He" never made an excessive chargo in his lifo. Sir Joseph Ward pointed out that tho document was minuted by the lato Mr. Seddon—"Stand over." To Mr. Myers: It would take about twenty days to make an inspection of Flaxbourno oil foot, and a. man .would i have to bo "pretty fit" to do it. Sir Joseph Ward stated that, in consequence of a question put by Mr. Massey, which had mado it appear that at.ono timo tlio . Government could have purchased the estate for £2 10s. ■ an aero, ho would have to call • Mr. M'Kerrow, who was then chairman of tho Land .Purchase Board. Tho Government could not purchase without tlio 1 recommendation of tho board, and tho : board would not recommend. Ho . thought they had good reason for not doing so. i Mr. Myers said lie must, in justice , to the witness, revert to what had been . said about whisky. i Thero were a good many men in tho camp, wero there not, and you • were riding and working hard?—" Yes." Was thero anything in the shapo of. orgies, or drunkenness ?—' 'Oh, dear, ; no.", Mr. Myers remarked that his case was now closed. . , The committee adjourned until 10.30 a.m. on Monday, with the intention of , sitting all the morning and afternoon. In the Houso last night Mr. Hanan (chairr-ian of the committee) asked that a week's extension of timo be granted the committee. This was agreed to.