MOKAU LANDS COMMISSION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 59, 31 August 1911, Page 3

MOKAU LANDS COMMISSION

i YESTERDAY'S SITTING. By Telegraph—Press Association. ' ■_' , Wellington, Wednesday. The Native Committee re the Mokau enquiry sat to-day. Mr. MacDonnell was the only absentee. Tuita MacDonnell, the Native Land Court agent, said that the first business in the Mokau ease was before the Native Land Court at Tc Kuiti in November of last year, when he acted for some of the native owners, who were, asking permission to deal with block 5, containing I.WO acres. The application was dismissed. They later saw the' Commission's report re invalidity of /Mr. Jones' leases, and it was decided to consult Mr. Bell, who said the leases of all the other blocks but [ block 5 were unassailable.

Continuing, Mr. MacDonnell said that on behalf of his clients. In; objected to the sale of the block to the lessees. The Board decided against them, and they again consulted Mr. Bell, who asked for £IOO for past services and £BOO to provide a fighting fund. He said if £teo were not forthcoming, that would be the end of their case. At the next meeting of the Hoard. Mr. Skerrett appeared, and pointed out to the natives the advantage of selling and thus saving litigation. Although he did not press the point, as the meeting progressed some of the witness' clients showed signs of wavering and going to tlie other side. During the next fortnight the Mokau company agreed to pay the native owners .£25,000 and £2500 worth of shares. It was on account of the shares giving the natives still an interest in the block that they gave way and agreed to sell. Witness accordingly gave consent on behalf of his clients. At the next meeting of the Land Board, the natives agreed to give •10 per cent, of the purchase money towards defraying legal and other costs, but although most of them had been paid by the company, the money for costs had not yet l«en forthcoming. The president of the Land Board was at present holding about £I3OO of this money in trust. Examined by Mr. Massey, he said that the natives were not compelled to sell to Lewis or go to litigation, but they could, as a third course, have approached the Government with a view to the Government taking over the land. Mr. Bell's suggestion of a fighting fund was to provide for the costs of the other side if the natives failed in the case. Witness knew of no other ease in which an Order-in-Council was issued to enable the sale of native land larger in area, than provided by the Act of 1900. Witness admitted telling Mr. Massey a few days ago that in his opinion the transaction was a gigantic swindle. Replying to Mr. Xgata, witness said he understood that unless they found the money, Mr. Bell could not attend the court, as Mr. Bell said he was not a pop-gun, and it would take more than five shillings to load him. Replying to Mr. Dive, witness said he himself \vas responsible for most of the adjournments of the court, as he wished to secure funds to fight for his clients. Witness, when he mentioned the affair as a gigantic swindle, meant to convey that was the street opinion. To Mr. Herries, witness said that the natives accepted the company's offer offer as the solution of a bad job. Witness represented the majority of the owners of the whole block.

The committee adjourned till to-mor-row.