Information Given

Horowhenua Chronicle, 1 July 1916, Page 3

Information Given

9 ON VAiRiOUS MATTEIUS. WIDOWS, iir Webb (Gi<iy) to ask the Prime Minister, Whether hia attention has been drawn to the following cablegram appearing iu tho prees oi 20'ih J unc: "The New South Wales Government intends to provide homes throughout the State not only for incapacitated soldiem, but also for soldiers' widtows''; and whether he will take into consideration the advisability of introducing similar legislation to provide hornets for soldiers and soldiers' widows P The Rt. Hon. Mr Massey rap*4iedl: A few applications have been received ito'u discharged soldiers for workers' dwellings and preference is being given to them over other applicants. Applications from the widows of soldiers will receive speoial consideration. SOUTH AFRICAN SOIiDIEIRS. Mr Jennings to ask the Minister of Lands, Whether he will take in consideration tlie desirability of including inthe Discharged Soldiers' Settlement I5i«l tho men from this Dominion who Ilia J been under fire in the South African War during 1900? The Rt. Hon. Mr Massey replied: Tlie proposal referred to already has received careful consideration, but it lias been decided not to extend 1 the provisions of tho Discharged Sbldierc' (Settlement Act in the direction indicated. ALIENS.

Dr A. K. Now ma 11 to ask the Government, Whether they will introduce legislation prohibiting aliens from acquiring freehold land in ths Dominon? The R.t. Hon. Mr Massey replied: This relates to a subject which must be considered at an Imperial Conference. Any legislation such as suggested must he uniform all over the Empire.

MAORI LAND DEAL. Air Harnaby to ask the Minister in charge of the Public Trust- Office, When will the enquiry be held into the conduct of W. B. Channels (while he was an officer of the Government and agent t)f the Public Trust Office in Masterton) in connection with the naltive lana deial in the course of which Rangi Kerehonua was Europeanized and deprived of 3000 acres of land; at a price far below its value?. (Note. —W. 13. 'ChcnneUs was, at the time of the trans, act'i m here referred to, agent m MmTtert:)ii for the I'u'biic Trustee. and Ji.ai)gi Kei'elioma was his ward. With Ohennells was associated \V. G. Lie.iid. solicitor, of Musterton. and they (since the exposure in the House laat yeau} have paid Kerehoma L'lo,oUo additional money and surrendered their claim to 4000 acres of land over which they had induced Kerehoma to give them a pull. All was done to.avoid the exposure w hit h would follow on the trial of the c.i.-.e in the Supreme Court.) Tie lit. Hon. Mr Massey replied: Aj inquiry was hejd about two years ago by tile Public h ustee under instrii/ctious from the Hon. Mr Herdman, tlici. Minister in charge of the Public TriLt-fc Office. The inquiry covered the who;e of the dealings with liaiigi Kerehorni's lands by Gliennells, Mr Beard and their respective families. As the resuit of his enquiry the i'ublic Trustee ,-ecominended thait Mr Ghennells'e posh ion as agent of the Public Trustee nt IKastertoa should he abolished, and •tihat a branch of the office should he t«ta ; . iislied there under the control of tin c fEcer of the staff as district manager. the' Minister rec<jmn endation, and it was given effect to accordingly. Mr C'hennells was not neting as agent of the Public Trust Ofßcj in the transactions referred to. hut the Government is alive to the f:act that with many settlers in the Masterton district the impression prevails that the office was directly or indirectly implicated, and tlie question of a public enquiry is under consideration, in order that the full facts may be publicly known.