THE MOKAU CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 147, 8 November 1912, Page 5

THE MOKAU CASE.

DISCUSSION OX COMMITTEE'S REPORT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Thursday. The debate on the Joshua Jones Committee's report was continued in the House early yesterday morning. Mr. McCallum said he did not approve of the Government granting compensation for loss sustained in private dealings. The report of the committee found against Jones on all issues, yet it wished to award him £3OOO. Mr. Statham expressed an opposite opinion, claiming that Jones had done considerable service to the country in bringing about peace in the King Country in the middle seventies. He reviewed the whole history of the Mokau transactions, and thought that the action of Sir Joseph Ward's Government in granting the freehold to flerrmatf Lewis had damaged Jones' chances of getting the estate, and the case was therefore one for compensation. Mr. Wilford contrasted the Government's action in this case with its action in connection with that of the captain of the Elingamite, who for ten years had been unemployed and practically under the stigma of manslaughter through the faulty charting of the New Zealand coast. Mr. Macdonald challenged Mr. Sta-. tham to repeat in public some of the statements he had just made under privilege. He contended that Mr. Satham, while professing to review the whole case, had omitted to state a most important fact, namely, that the Ordcr-in-Council stipulated that Lewis must cut up the estate for settlement within three years. Mr. Buddo deplored the mud-shngmg which had been going on all the session, and if the Government, after being soma months in office eould find nothing more damaging to the previous Government than had been the case, it was time this style of argument ceased. Mr. Bell, replying, admitted that Jones had no legal claim against the Gevernment, but the payment of £3OOO was purely ex gratia. The House agreed to refer the report to the Government for consideration. ■ i i