PAYMENT FOR TIMBER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 974, 17 May 1930, Page 5

PAYMENT FOR TIMBER

COMPLAINT BY MAORIS DID NOT GET THEIR DUE After hearing evidence at *the inquiry in which certain Hokianga natives petitioned for payment in connection with timber on land sold to white people Judge Acheson, in the Native Land Court, said yesterday that thu natives had not been paid money to which they were entitled. The sale, which took place in 1914, conveyed a block of 4,350 acres from the native owners to several Europeans. A petition presented by the native owners to Parliament claimed that the Government valuer’s report that there was no millable timber cn the property was incorrect and that at the time of the sale there were over 4& million superficial feet of millable timber on the land. FRAUD ALLEGED Counsel for the natives, Mr. J. J Sullivan, had, during the inquiry, alleged fraud, though no specific person was named. Mr. Acheson said it seemed clear that no fraud had been definitely proved; there were only certain circumstances that were not quite right. The court would have to hold that it was not proper to go into the question of fraud in the present proceedings. Nevertheless, its recommendations to Parliament would refer to certain aspects, which were certainly suspicious. It would rest with Parliament to say whether any further inquiries should be made and whether the matter should be brought into another court having different jurisdiction. He would inspect the block shortly and would then be in a better position to judge the valuer’s report on the accessibility or. otherwise of the timber.