MOKAU INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1264, 20 October 1911, Page 8

MOKAU INQUIRY.

THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. TO BE DISCUSSED TO-DAY. - The report on the inquiry regarding the transactions of the Government in connection with the Mokau-Mohakatino blocks was presented by the Chairman of the Native Affairs Committee in the House, of Representatives yesterday afternoon. The report and llio accompanying evidence wore laid on the table, ami at the'renuc't of the Leader of the Opposition tho Primo Minister promised that opportunity for adequate discussion of the report would be provided to-day.

The Committee prefaced its report with a summary of tho statement made in tho House some. woek3 ago by Sir James Carroll, then Acting-Prime Minister, and the statement made by Mr. Mnssey at tho opening of the inquiry. The Coinmitteo found that the statement of Sir James Carroll correctly sets out the facts relating to the Government's association with the transaction. Mr. Massey's statement correctly sets out the facts referred to by him, and is in agreement with tho statement of the Government except as to throe minor matters:—(l) He suggested that the limitation provisions of the Native Land Act were .avoided by the issue of an Order-in-Council, whereas in fact tho Order-in-Council was issued in accordance with such limitation provisions. (2) The statement to the effect that the meeting of Native owners was not properly representative was disproved. (3) The"statement to the effect that the company or morubers of the company will possess practically a monopoly of coalbearing areas on the West Coast of the Taranaki Provincial District was disproved. "The only additional facts which the committee deems it necessary to refer to," the report continues, "are thatthe lessee acquired the interest of the Natives in the blocks for the sum of £25,0(1(1 in cash and the snm of .€2500 in fully-paid-up shares in a company having a capital of ,£IOO,OOO, formed to acquire tho MokauMohakatino Blocks and other properties. "Mr. Herman Lewis, tho lessee, sold all his interests in the Mokau-Mohakafino Blocks, excepting an area of about "COO acres, which are subject to certain subleases to Mason Chambers, for tho sum of £71,000 in cash and ,£4OOO in fully-paid-up shares in the company. The company purchased from Mason Chambers, paving in cash and shares in its capital the sum of X 55.000.

"The sum paid to the Natives for their interest in the land was greater than the actuarial value of the interests of the Natives burdened with the leases, assuming tho purchase money obtained by the lessco to bo the true value of the block. Suggestions wero made before tho committee reflecting upon certain Departmental officers concerned in this transaction, but the committee is satisfied that these suggestions wero entirely disproved." Mr. W. T. Jennings (Taumarunui) moved that tho report and minutes of proceedings and evidence lio on tho table and bo printed. Mr. W. F. Mas.sey asked whether . tho Primo Minister would give the House a proper opportunity to discuss tho report, lie pointed out. that if it were taken forthwith the discussion would have to cease at 5.30 p.m., and members would not have time to familiarise themselves with the report and evidence. He suggested that the discussion should bo made an order of (he day for to-day or some other day before the close of the session. Otherwise it could only come on in tho afternoon and must cease at 5.30. Tho Primo Minister said that ho would give the House a full opportunity to discuss tho report somo timo to-day. The motion was amended by adding tho words "and be considered t>inorrow." Mr. Herries subsequently mentioned that a professed summary of tho report, which appeared in the evening paper, was incorrect, having been apparently based upon a draft which was afterwards greatly altered by the committee.