Boorabil Inquiry

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 58, 29 July 1914, Page 5

Boorabil Inquiry

ALLEGED IMI'RlH'k'U COXDCOT DENIED BY THE I'itLMIER. By CaMe.—Press Association.— Copyright Received 28, 8.45 p.m Sydney, July 2S. J At the Boorabil enquiry, Mr. llolman. tliti Premier, was lengthily 'Xaimiied. !!■■ gave evidence that Join.', had interviewed him prior to the Uabinet's consideration of the resumption of .the Boorabil estate, and complained that he could not get Mr, Trefle to finally decide the matter, and as he was going before his constituents he wanted a settling one way or another. Mr. Holman was then unaware that the proposed resumption had been rejected, bat was to be re-considered. He declared that the Labor Party was opposed to members of Parliament acting as land agents, as open to abuse, in that mem- | bers of the party supporting the Government might obtain a concession as the price of a vote. He denied anything of that kind in the present instance. There was no question of political pressure on Jones' part. He knew that Jones and Osborne were carrying on a land agency, Jones getting a little remuneration out of the business, but he did not know at the time the vote was taken. Osborne and Jones voted In ifavor of the resumption. Had he known, he would have considered it a great indiscretion.

"A MATTER FOR THEIR COX- | STITUENTS." | Received 28, 9.20 p.m. ; Sydney, July 28. [ Mr. Holman added that he had accepted Mr. Jones' assurance that Mr. Trefle thought the Boorabil bargain a good one. i Mr. Trefle, examined as to details of the negotiations with the owners, sa ;, l he took it for granted that Jones and Osborne were acting as land agents, and were being paid by somebody. Eight years ago lie had placed a clause in the Labor platform against members act : ng as land agents. Asked how it came about that the two were so acting, Mr. Trefle replied, "That is a matter for their constituents and tie executive."