LAND SCANDAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1471, 3 June 1905, Page 3

LAND SCANDAL.

more ABOUT MR 'WILLIS.

By Electric Telegraph—Per Press Association—Copyright. Beceived 12.9 a.m., June 3. Sydney, Juno 2. At the Lands Commission the secretary L oi 'the Coonnmble Fanners’ Association gave ovidence that a man named Hayes tendered for the losses of Wingadee station. His tender was the lowest, but he was allowed by the Minister of Lands to amend it to equal with the highest. Shortly afterwards ho applied and had tl e rental reduced from 7d to 4-id. The leases ■were afterwords tranferred to Mrs W. N. ■Willis as mortgagee. Hoyes was called to givo evidence, but failed to appear. The Commissioner ordered that proceedings be taken against him. Garner, the highest tenderer for the lease, deposed that his tender was refused without a reason beiDg given. Ho added that it was publicly stated that they were Willis’ leases, and that it was a great impertinence on bis part to tender. He was told ten minutes after the tsnders were in that he was a fool to compete ogaiDst Willis. This came out from the Lands Department. Beceived 12.18 a m., June 3. At a meeting of the Labor Council it was resolved to favor the immediate appointment of a Koyal Commission to fully enquire into the administration of the Lands Department for the last 15 years. It was contended that the powers of the present Commission wero too limited. One speaker declared tbo disclosures led to the belief that hnndredo of thousands had been given away to boodlers, land agents, and mou interested in the Lands Department! Another said the disclosures pointed to wholosa'e corruptions in regard to the lands of the State for the past 20 or even 50 years.