AGENTS IN PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 56, 27 July 1914, Page 5

AGENTS IN PARLIAMENT.

ADMITTEDLY INDISCREET ACTIONS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, July 25. Tlie Boorabil Commission lias opened. The evidence of the agents as to the sale of the property to the Government for closer settlement purposes was to the cirect that when it appeared likely that tlio sale would not go through Messrs Osborne and Jones were approached, the idea being that in their positions as member and ex-, member of Parliament, they would have better access for pushing the sale forward than land agents, who were forbidden to interview the Lands Department. A certain commission was promised them. Messrs Osborne and Jones, examined, detailed the terms of the agreement and their interviews with Ministers and others. Mr. Jones, in reply to the Commissioner's question whether it was his influence that was bought, said: "ft may be that or it may be the access to the Ministers that we had." Air. Osborne, in reply to the question, said he did not think they had any more influence or pull as far as the Government was concerned than any oilier reputable citizen. Mr. Osborne admitted that if, was j\n indiscreet thing to give a vote in Parliament on a matter in which he was pecuniarily interested, but lie was inexperienced.