THE MOA FLAT SALE.

Evening Star, Issue 2897, 1 June 1872, Page 3

THE MOA FLAT SALE.

The ’Select Committee appointed to consider the above subject examined Messrs J. F. Hitching (Mr Clarke’s manager), Jno. Mackay, J. A. Connell, D. H. Mervj'n, H. Bastings, and J. B. Bradshaw, and have reported as follows : It is the opinion of your Committee that the interests of the district have been injuriously affected by the sale, hut they cannot agree as to the extent to which these interests have been so affected. It appears to your Committee that the MoaFlat Land Sale involves an important question of policy, regarding which your Committee do not feel called upon to express an opinion. The various papers accompanying the report will enable members of Council to form their own opinions. Your Committee find that when the CargillTurnbull Government succeeded the lleidDuncan Government, the overdraft at the Bank of New Zealand amounted to the large sum of LSB,OOO. The Bank urgently pressed ths Government to reduce this overdraft, and Mr Turnbull, the then Treasurer, wrote to the Bank M anager, stating that the Government had resolved to ask the Council to authorize the sale of 40,000 or 50,000 acres of land in blocks. The Heid-Bradshaw Government, who succeeded the Cargill-Turn-bull Government, were still pressed by the Bank to reduce the overdraft, and on the 13th July, 1871. Mr Held moved the following resolution, which was carried by a large majority : “ That this Council, having had under its consideration His Honor’s Message, No. 11, is of opinion £that it is desirable to provide revenue for the purposes indicated, and with this view resolve to authorize the Government to dispose of 50,000 acres of laud in one of more blocks ; and would recommend that before the sale of any laud under the authority of this resolution, full and careful enquiry should he made with a view to prevent the alienation of any land, the sale of which may be, or may be deemed to be, prejudicial to the public interests.” With respect to the recommendation contained in the latter part of the resolution, your Committee are of opinion that it has not been strictly carried out.