"INTERFERENCE AND DICTATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1248, 4 October 1911, Page 4

"INTERFERENCE AND DICTATION.

A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL RESIGNS.

(By Telegraph-Special Correspondent.) I _ Gisborne, October 3. 1 Considerable surpriso has )>con caused hero owing to (he resignation of Mr. keefcr, president of the Tairawhiti Maori Land Board. Addressing tho board lO|-day, he said:— "1 liavo had interference and dictation from Ilia head of tho Department in the administration of my judicial duties which I immediately resented, h> preferring not to sacrifice my manhood and the. dictates of my conscience, I have tendered my i-e----signation to the Hon. Sir James Carroll, Nativo Minister, preferring to do this and give up a position of remuneration in place of occupying nny false position." Subsequently Mr. Keefer «nid lie had tried to placo tho position as nicely as ho could without disclosing 100 lunch. ll* could not stale what the interference and dictation of the Under-Secretary was, but it would probably come out, and tho correspondence would bo published, as'llo doubt Parliament would want to see what it was all about. He had notified tlio Department that he was announcing liis resignation to-uay, nnd )io would l» relinquishing office at the end of the month.

"But," added Mr. ICcefer, "had tlio Undcr-Secretary been a little courteous, I would have remained until December." The trouble, it is understood, relates to a block in the vicinity of East Cape.