MINISTER AND JUDGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8361, 22 February 1913, Page 4

MINISTER AND JUDGE

The Hon. W. H. Herries, who appears to be one of the few Ministers who dare to give utterance to administrative opinions outside the column* of the squatters’ organ, endeavours to explain mvay the little scandal connected with the alienation of a certain Maori estate at a price far below tho Government valuation, dealt with in our leading columns yesterday. In an interview with one of onr reporters, Mr Herries says no Maori Council agreed to a sale unless the agreement to purchase was made on tho basis of a price equal to the Government valuation. He also quotes the law to show that this thing could not be done. W« are sure Mr Herries means well, but it is quite evident that ho does not know, though, as tho head of this particular department, he ought to know* \Ve have taken the facts from tho ‘‘Gazette” Law Reports. We have quoted the Judge’s actual words literally from the same source. Does Mr Herries dispute the reliability of tluv •‘Gazette” Law Reports? Docs he refuse to accept this authority as authentic ? Wo hardly think Mr Herries would venture as far as this in hia well-meant hut ill-advised contradiction. If Mr Herries is prepared to accept the “Gazette” Law Reports as reliable, and as a Minister of tho Crown wo think he should, let us repeat the Judge’s words t-r Tbe Government valuation is £lB 5s per acre. A Board which confirms a sale at £lO an aero when the existing valuation is £Ui ss, and where there is before _ it what appears to be a bona fide offer of £lB per acre, takes upon itself a heavy responsibility, and exposes itself to grave suspicion of having betrayed the very interest which it weis established to protect. After all, Mr Herries does not really contradict our words. He merely contradicts a Judge of the Supreme Court, who has heard tho case and knows what ho is talking about, while Mr Herries simply says the thing could not have happened because it is contrary to the law. It is not out of place to suggest to Mr Herries that a good many things are happening under “Reform” administration that are inconsistent with the law.