AN INUISCREET MEMBER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2180, 2 May 1908, Page 3

AN INUISCREET MEMBER.

ALLEGATIONS OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE. DENIAL BY PRIME MINISTER. Press Association. ■WELLINGTON, Alay 1. An allegation that political influence had been used against Miss Aleinertshagen in her efforts to obtain the land she claimed in the Wainiarnma block, Hawke’s Bay. was made nt a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Land Board on Thursday. Mr. Eustace Lane, a newlv-elected representative of the Crown tenants, said he was forced to make the assertion that political influence had been brought to bear in the matter. He was an eyewitness, ho added, of a meeting between Mr. Donnelly and the Premier, and they had since had the benefit of political influence in the matter. Sir Joseph Ward, questioned on the subject by a “New; Zealand Times” representative, declared the statement, to be absolutely untrue. Ho had, upon reading it, sent the following telegram to Mr. Trent, _ Commissioner of Crown Lands, Napier: “I notice in the press report'this morning a statement by Mr Lane that political influence was used with me by- Air. Donnelly in connection with Miss Meinertzhagen’s. land matters. This is absolutely incorrect. Neither Mr. Donnelly nor anybody else, on his behalf or otherwise, ever apliroached me on the subject, which is icing considered by your Board. Indeed, I have no personal knowledge of it, and have not interfered in any way, nor. so far as I 'know, have any of my colleagues. It is to bo regretted that- a member of the Board, .without the slightest- warrant, should so far forget himself as to make such a statement. The reply from the Commissioner is iii. the following terms: “Other members of tho Board, Miss Aleinertzliagen, Mr. Campbell (counsel of Donnelly) took exception to Lane’s action as unwarrantable and ill-advised.—H. Trent, Commissioner of Crown Lands.”