MOKAU INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1580, 25 October 1912, Page 6

MOKAU INQUIRY.

EVIOENCE OF MINISTERS, THE ORDER-IN-COUNCIL, Further evidenco was heard on Wednesday regarding Jlr, Joshua Jones's claim in respect of lands at Jlokau by tiie Parliamentary Couimitteo set up for that purpose. The Hon. W F. Massoy, Prime Minister, was called as a witness by tlio petitioner. In answer to Mr. Jones, he said lie was not sure whether the issue of the Order-m-Council imperilled Jones's interests as a least-holder, for, if ha recollected aright, the leasehold interest was sold prior to tho issue of tho Ordor-in-Unmcil. Speaking from memory, ho thought the freehold was sold subject to the leasehold. When shown the Ordcr-Iu-Unincil he said there was practically no reference to the leaseholder. Jlr. Jones: In any case if I were contesting the leasehold, this would pluce mo at a disadvantage, would it not? Mr. Massey: That is a point on which I am not able to express an opinion. It is a legal point. In answer to n further question he said he had expressed tho opinion in the House I hat. his case ought to occupy tho attention , of tho Government. The Hon. W. H. Herrics, tho next witness, was asked tlio same question as Mr. Mas,;ey about the issuo of the Order-in-. Council jeopardising his claim. Mr. Herries replied: I think you weft entirely out of it at that. time. The leases had been sold by the trustees of the Flower Estate, and your legal claims were entirely extinct. And I don't think the Ordor.in-Counc.il had any effect at all on your position. It only 'affected the Natives. It enabled them to sell, but did not say to whom they were to sell. Mr. Jones: Oh, yes. Pardon me. Mr. Herries: Not in my opiuion. It was issued only in consequence of a section that prevented people from acquiring more than a certain amount. Mr. Jones: It was issued to an individual, fir. Mr. Herries: I don't tbink so. It may bo th^re. To Mr. Statham: The issue of the Or-der-in-Council might be held to bo contrary to the recommendation of the Committee of (ho. Upper House in 190S, that pending a i-fl.tlemont nothing further should be done wiUrtbe land. In his opinion the issue of the Order-iu-Council was not in the public interest. To Mr. Anstey. lie considered (hat the Mokau lauds were a fit subject of inquiry by the Stout-Palmer Commission. The freehold of (lie land was held by the Natives, and tho land was therefore certainly Native land. The Committee adjourned until 10.30 a.m. to-day, YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. EVIDENCE^ OP SIR JOSEPH WARD. Tho committee of both Houses of Parliament which is investigating tho claims of Joshua Jones in respect of Mokau lands, continued its sittings yesterday. Tho committee met in tho morning, and decided to ask for a further extension of time for seven days in which to report. A sub-committee, was .appointed to draft a report for presentation to tho House,' consisting of the Hon. J. Rigg, iho Hori, J. T. Paul, the Hon. S. Thorne George, Mr. C. E. Statham, and Mr. W. H.- 1). Bell.

In the afternoon the committee met to hear tho evidence. of Sir Joseph 'Wiml. : In answer to a question put by Mr. Jones,' Sir Joseph Ward said ho'recollect-" cd having been waited upon by Mr. Jones and Mr. W. T. Jennings, and he had looked into the whole case. As a decision had been given in England against Mr. Jones which deprived him oi his rights, he recognised that it was difficult.I for the Government to attcpipt to deal with a vested interest which Mr. Jones eaid he had,.but which the Court said ho had not. Ho was sympathetically disposed towards Mr. Jones on account of his troubles, and he recollected telling Mr. Jones distinctly that tTiVonly course open to him (Jones) was to petition Parliament. An inquiry would then bo held, and upon the result of that inquiry ho would act. To Mr. Anstey: He did not give any promise to Mr. Jones to givo him a lease of the mineral rights, but he recognised that Mr. Jones's position was a difficult one, and he considered the idea of buying the' Natives out. Later he found it was impossible to give effect to what Mr. Jones wished. Lcgol difficulties confronted him and tho country at every turn, and it was impossible to givo Mr. Jones the rights ho asked for. To Mr, Luke:.He was then of opinion that Mr'. Jones had lost his rights through an action initiated in England, but as a. matter of grace, he was prepared to grant to him at the time a lease of a portion of the minerals on tho block, and possibly ho might have boon prepared to go a little, farther.

To Captain Tucker: When the proposal to buy vjs before the Government legal difficulties were raised, and the Natives osked for a 'great deal higher price than they had formerly demanded. The end was that tho scheme was dropped,

To JIT. Jones: The price quoted by Mr. .Tones (,£15,000) as the price at which the Sfokau londs could be acquired was in fact very much loss than the Natives would accept. As a matter of fact, the Natives asked a price which was very much above tho Government valuation, and which was so high that tho Government could not treat with them lor tho purpose of acquiring the land. The committee adjourned until 12 o'clock Loon to-day.