TIMBER-LAND DEAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 741, 14 August 1929, Page 1

TIMBER-LAND DEAL

DR. RAYNER’S SALE

SOME POINTED QUESTIONS

(THE SUN—‘B Parliamentary Reporter) PARLIAMENT BLDG., Tuesday.

The amazing land deal by Dr. Ray-1 ner is still being hammered at by Mr. C. H. Clinkard (Rotorua), and in the House of Representatives today he asked pointed questions of the Minister of Railways concerning the deal! made by the late Government. He! asked the Minister if his attention had been drawn to statements in the Press concerning the deal, and wanted the Minister to advise the House as follows: (1) Whether, in view of his department’s undoubted requirements, steps were taken to ascertain what timber was available before the purchase from Mrs. Hoyes was made. and if. not iwhy not? i (2) Is it true that about the time ithat the purchase from Mrs. Hayes ‘ was made a block of timber. now said E to "contai‘ufifilfioofim‘was"purchased ifrom the natives for less than £5,000, 1 and if so why was such an opportunity :lost by the department? (3) Are there any other blocks of. timber in the same district available for purchase? (4) Is it true that the Crown’s best offer to the natives for the lands mentioned in No. 2 was 2s 6d an acre and if so why? (5) Who were the oflicers responsible for the above management or mismanagement, and are those same officers in control of affairs?

The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates pointed out that the question had been the subject of an inquiry by a commission some years ago, and should not be brought up again. Mr. Speaker said Mr. Clinkard should have moved for the return, but there was nothing to debar him from asking questions.