UNWARRANTED ALLEGATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 112, 2 May 1908, Page 2

UNWARRANTED ALLEGATION.

Per Preea Associate i>fl Wellington, Last Night. An ulligation that politic 1 inlluence I had lilt-'ll used against AlUs Meinertahagen in her uiloi'ls to obtain the land she claimed in the Waimarana blue!;, Hawkes' Bay, was made at a meeting of the Hawke's Bay Land Board on Thursday. Mr. Eustace Lane, a newlyelected representative of tlie Crown tenants, said he was forced to make the assertion that politiiM iiillujtoce libtl been brought to bear in the matter. Ho was an eye-witness, he added, of n ( uceting between Mr. Donnelly anil the premier, and tliey had since had the jenefit of political influence on the matter. JSii- Joseph Ward, questioned on the subject by a New Zealand Times representative, declared the statement to fie absolutely untrue. He had upon reading it sent the following telegram to Mr. Trent, Commissioner of Crown Lands at Napier;—"l notice in tin l'ress report this morning a statement by Mr. Lane that political iulluenee was used with me by Mr. Donnelly in con neetion with Miss Meincrtzhagen's lam matters. This is absolutely incorrect neither Mr. Donnelly nor anybody clsi on his behalf or otherwise • ever up proached me on the subject, which i being considered by your Board. In deed, I have/ no personal knowledge o it, and have not interfered in any h-uj, nor so far as I know have any of my colleagues. It is to be regretted tluit a member of the Board, without the slightest warrant, should so far forget himself as to make such a statement." 'The reply from the Commissioner is in the following terms:—"Other members of the Board, Miss Meinlertzhagcri,' and Mr. Campbell (counsel for F. Donnelly), took exception to Lane's action as unwarrantable and ill-advised." Miss Meinertzhagen mentioned before the Laud Court that the Waimarama dispute had already cost her £4OOO in legal expenses alone.