LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1199, 7 August 1911, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

MOKAU LAND PURCHASE. NATIVE OWNERS DISGUSTED. Sir,--Being a staunch reader of your, paper of lato in following up Mr. Massty's 1 statement referriu;; lo the Mckau land transaction, I volunteer to ask you tor-a little space in your valuable paper, in which to enable me to give a low instances ■ regarding the above sale. J, being par), owner of the above block, was interviewed by several other part owners residing in the Manawatu district, to journey to Te Kuiti and attend the first sitting of the Maori Laud Board dealing with the above sale. The proposal for sale at that, sitting was lost, the majority of Native owners voting against tho proposal. Now, Mr. Editor, before leaving Te ICuiti for Otr.ki a meeting of owners was held to discuss tho advisability of .seeking legal advico in which to have their rights looked into in respect to Jones's lease. A proposal was carried by the owners assembled that the firm of Bell, Gully, and Myers be consulted or. the matter. The meeting then spoke in high terms of the Commissioner's report on the. Mokau la.nd ca;e, of which tho Commission consisted of Sir Robert Stout, and Mr. Jackson Palmer. Their report they thought afforded ovidenco of their strong means of maintaining their rights to the land. Shortly after arriving at Otaki a party of owners, numbering six, including myself, interviewed Mr. H. D. Bell to carry out our wishes, that is, to act for us'in a.U matters regarding the saiil land, in which ho agreed, to our hearts" delight. After our Ugni'adviser had got tilings in order ready for the battle, an insignificant Maori agent, chosen by the. Natives as their snakesman regarding Mr. Bell intercepted, and settled things by urging the Natives to consent to sale. I will now draw jour many readers attention to the way tho board have been paying thc« iWivra their purchase money according to their respective shares in the land. The board sat at Te Kuiti in June lust, and paid to several owners their share of the purchase money, less 10_ per cent. This deduction, I understand, is to pay these Native "dummy" agents_ their fees for services rendered by thom m the above sale. The land was purchased for £25,000, deductinglo per cent, out of this amount will run into foiiT which I eon-ider- is absolutely ridiculous. Surely the so-called Maori agents' expenses do cot cover .£'JSOO. Under section 4*24 of the Native Land Act. 190&, it plainly states that no deduction in any shaps or form can be made, which I consider the board has overlooked. It is now four or five months since the land was disposed of, and we, qnimbaring thirty or more, have not . yet received our share of tho purcha.se money. I will now ask thd board to pay to us tho full amount wo are entitled" to before other stops are taken to remedy Ihe oversight—immediate settlement is required—l am, etc., F AIRPLAY. Otaki, August 4.