THE MOKAU LANDS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 49, 19 August 1911, Page 5

THE MOKAU LANDS

UN INQUIRY BEGUN. PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The inquiry into the Mokau land transactions ordered by the Government was commenced before the Native Affairs Committee to-day; Mr. Jennings (M.P. for Taumanmui) presided. The members of the committee are: Sir James Carroll, Hon. Mr. Ngata, Messrs. Harries. Dive, Seddon, McDonald, Te Rangihiroa (Dr. Buck), Mander and Parata. Mr. Massey, in reply to a question by the chairman, said he did not want to narrow the inquiry in any way. Through his speech he had been made a party to the matter, and he was prepared to submit certain names of men whom he suggested should be called as witnesses. These names he read. Sir James Oarrooll urged that Mr. Massey should give the lead, and intimate the points on which the inquiry should proceed. Mr. Massey said he did not want the inquiry to be narrowed, but he was quite prepared to make a statement. Mr. Ngata suggested that Mr. Massey might make his statement at once. Mr. Massey, replied that he had very little more to say beyond what he had stated in the House.

Sir James Carroll pointed out that he had replied to those statements, and he would like Mr. Massey to take that reply and show any discrepancies in his answers to the statements made.

Mr. Massey suggested that the order of procedure should be the other way. Sir James Carroll: "But I have answered your statements." Mr. Massey: "I submit not." Sir James Carroll: "Then it is for you to say wherein I have failed."

The chairman agreed with Sir James Carroll and M.r. Massey assented. Sir James Carroll said this would start the inquiry with definite details.

Mr. Hemes hoped this would not result in the inquiry being limited in any way.

Sir James Carroll said it would not. The committee, however, had to have something definite to go upon. The chairman to Mr. Massey: "Are you prepared now to go on?" Mr. Massey: "No, but I will be prepared to make a statement at the next meeting of the committee."

Mr. Massey had previously intimated that lie proposed to call Mr. Joshua Jones and the chairman of the Maniapoto Land Board (who will 'be askod to produce tho minutes and correspondewe). Messrs. Hermann Lewis, H. D. Bell, Te Wliiti, McDonald- (Otaki), and D. 11. Hiu'dy (surveyor, Te Kuiti). The committee will meet a<g«in on Tuesday morning n't 11 o'clock, when the witnesses named will he in attendance. Alter Mr. Massey has made his statement, Mr. Jones will be called.