THE MOKAU REPORT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 63, 28 October 1911, Page 5

THE MOKAU REPORT.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, October '27. Mr Jennings, continuing the discussion on the Mokau report, pointed out Unit uJiiist tiie Opposition had urged that the natives snould 1)3 allowed to deal with their own lands, they condemned the Government tor permitting them to do so. All Taranalu papers, Opposition and Government, had said tli,it the right tiling had been done. Personally no was satisfied that the nest tiling tor the natives and the country had been done. 'J he syndicate had set an example to the Government in promptitude in putting on surveyors to cut up the block into suitable farms and making arrangements to road the whole block. As to the coal area, there were many faults in the seams and the working expenses would l>c very heavy. The Maoris were quite satisfied with the position. Mr Massey, in a long criticism of ■the transactions, said Mr Jennings had done his best to apologise for tiie action of the Government. Speculators had been furnished with the right to make a profit out of the settlers. The transaction was one of the most extraordinary and improper that had ever taken place in the administration of the country. Ho averred that tiie meetings of native owners prior to the sale being endorsed by the board were not representative. Tuiti McDonald, one of those who acted for the natives, admitted in evidence that he had told Mr Massey that the “whole tiling was a gigantic swindle.” He alleged tnat the issue of the Order-in-Council was unknown to the president of the Maori Land Hoard until told by Mr Dakiell, who seemed to control the whole transaction. In iris (Mr Massey’s) opinion the natives had not received a fair price. The Government should have purchased the land itself.

Hon. A. Ngata said Mr. Massey had delivered ids address to the jury and had made out a very poor case for the prosecution. He maintained that the natives had got a very fair deal, and the course that had been adopted under the circumstances was the only one possible. On resuming at 2.30 Sir Joseph Ward said that if the Government had purchased the land it would have had to pay in addition to the actual cost of £25,000, rates to the New Plymouth Harbour hoard. As a matter of fact, the -estate would have cost the country £92,500. Twenty-five per cent, on all rentals for all time would have had to be paid to the New Plymouth Harbour hoard. Continuing, he said the complexity of the Mokau affair and the perplexity of the whole position was responsible for the Government deriding not to touch the matter. The Government had endeavoured to acquire tiio estate compulsorily, but was advised by the law officers of the Crown that it had no power to do so. He emphasised the fact that both Sir James Carroll and Hon. A,. Ngata had stated that the best thing had been clone. lie also justified the appointment of Mr howler. At this stage Sir Joseph Ward was rung down. Mr G. Fowlds condemned the course of insinuation followed by the Opposition. If anything had tended to prove that the course the Government had followed was rectitude itself vt uas the evidence given at the inquiry that had shown that the natives had been well treated, and so-called speculators had purchased a property which might have resulted in costly litigation.

Mr Dive moved an amendment that there be added to the report an expression that the appointment 01 a public servant to the position of tn;stee in connection with private companies is undesirable. Mr Dive’s am&ndm€nt^Vas , cd by -12 to 19. Sir James Carroll stated that he took the responsibility of permitting the machinery under the Native Land A ct to ho used in order that a ‘•ettlemont might be arrived at in this longstanding dispute permitting settlement of a large area which was stepping progress. •None of Mr Massey’s <■ rate-, ments could he construed : n to a charge. They wouo merely suggestions j that was all. * \ Mr Herries, in reply, said his opinion of tlio sale was that a number of natives averse to selling were forced into a corner because they could not. raise money to fight the case. The report was carried on the voices.