The Land Scandal.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7838, 2 June 1905, Page 3

The Land Scandal.

■ ALLEGATIONS OF EXTORTION. (Received June 2, 0.7 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 1. Before the Lands Commission, Sir John See, ex-Premier pf New South Wales categorically denied the statements made before the Commission that he when- Premier or subsequently was interested in this sale of certain estates. Bath produced for the Commission era' inspection the bill bearing tho name over which trouble arose at 'a previous /sitting. He explained that hts non-return then was due to illness. The Ron. J. -Crick was further examined as regards his investment of Bath's commission in Treasury bills. Nothing fresh transpired. Mr Webster, a member of the House of Representatives, made serious allegations that extortion was practised by land agents. He declared it was practically as difficult for bona fide settlers to obtain their rights as a matter of law and without extortion t)y the agents as for the proverbial camel to pass through the eye of a needle. He explained that when a monitor of the NewSouth Wales Parliament he had tried to air the matter, but was always blocked by interested members. Witness also made charges of dummying, and produced a sworn declaration from a man who alleged that he and several others paid through Willis as dummy. The Crown Lands Commissioner Said he could inquire into the question of extortion by agents, but not into the dummying