WEST COAST SETTLEMENT RESERVES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 166, 19 December 1914, Page 8

WEST COAST SETTLEMENT RESERVES.

To tin; Editor, Sir, —In yours of the 10th inst., appeared a letter by Mr Paul Willcox, and your remarks thereto, which' are likely to mislead the general public with regard to the action of the lessees, especially with regard to the treatment of Maxwell. As chairman of the Executive Committee of Lessees, I fee! it is my duty to state the case so as to prevent any erroneous or misconceived ideas, which apparently exists. The rev. gentleman referred to by Mr P.W., I think, was the first to move in the matter, and pci'tormed splendid service in stirring up to action and collecting initiatory funds. Meetings of the Wast Coast Lessees were called at three centres, viz., Rahotu, ITawera and Tikor- , angi. At those meetings, local committees were fortned, consisting of about ten members. Then each local commit- ■ tee elected three representatives to meet on the general committee, thus providing for a general committee of nine members. 'i'lu; first general meeting was held at .Stratford (not Eltham, as stated by Mr. J'.W.) Tlio idea of the general committee was first formulated at this meeting, and remitted to the local committees for endorsement and election of general representation. The rev. gentleman was, and is treasurer of the local aominittee. But it was felt inadvisable to elect him to the general committee, as ho was not a leaseholder under the Act. Again, the gentlemen elected to the excntive or general committee, I believe, all were 1802 leaseholders, not 188 L (Ther is no ISB2 Act, as stated by vour correspondent, but I take it this 'is a printer's error). At any rate, those elected from tin; liahotu committee were 1802 lessees. Then the matter of distinction betwen 1881 ande 1802 lessees. It was proved that the fighting of this matter unitedly up to a certain point was the correct course. ■ j

As it was clearly demonstrated to the Maori committee and their legal adviser by Mr. Maxwell aiul our legal ad\iser that the 18S1 leases could not revolt to tli natives, but had to continuously be put up to public tnder for which Maoris were prohibitd from tendering. Consequently, a compromise was ani\ed at that if tiie ISSI lessees extinguished all right of renewal at the expiration og 10 years' extension, with full compensation for improvements. ' n ' ■" they agreed to the right of purchase of freehold (by consent) of both 18KI and 1802. In consequence of the compromise arranged by the Parliamentary committees, our M's.l'. arranged and called a meeting of 18S1 lessees (as it was only tliem the compromise concerned), while the Maori member also called a meeting to lav the matter before his people, with the result that the compromise was agreed to. Hence, the legislation by consent. Xow 1 come to tiie most particular part. Your refcrnee of the action of lessees towards Mr Maxwell. I am quite sure the lessees, and especially the general committee, recognise and fed under a lasting debt of gratitude to Mr Maxwell, and with him, .Mr Wilkinson and Mr Budge, the general secretary, who have specially worked very strenuously in the 'natter, and I think f.lie biggest problem ih: { has conl'rnnied (he general committee was I he method of striving to vemuncrale Mr Maxwell to some' extent nil- (lie splendid services rendered. l>ut lie set his face stadfastiy against receiving any rcmumvation 'excepting actual expenses, and eventually resolved itself, you may bring a. horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink. \Vell, with regard to tile supposed injutsiee meted out to Mr Maxwell, the valuation. The meeting to appoint valuer in accordance with Act was called by secretary limine ;is per enclosed circular, and in consultation with me, we agreed to notify that no proxies would bo allowed, thus preventing any would-be candidates securing preference. jSTo of. ficial application was made prior to the meeting. At the commencement of this meeting, Mr Maxwell indicated his willingness to be nominated, but before nominations were called for, he declined to be_ nominated. Consequently, the lee'; i

won 1(1 tiikc place- in this matter, was that Mr Maxwell had been approached to act as valuer in 1892 leases by myself and others, .which lie declined to <io stating (I think wisely) that >ie felt it might be detrimental to the cause he was advocating. I feel quite sure t). »t if Mr Maxwell had indicated his willingness to act, viz., shortly after the circulai\notico was issued, he undoubtedly would 'have been ihc chosen valuer. I desire to state that T believe that no member of the committee took any steps lo favor or influence any candidate. J lnve no desire to enter into the political controversy, but I do think that the Present Government, through our meinl;er, has put this matter on a very much more satisfactory fi.jting, which will be demonstrated as time, goes on, as it takes some little time to «et this class of machinery into working order. Apologising for such transgression or your space, and thanking you in anticipation, —I am, etc., T.f'J. HUGHSON Chairman of general coirimitte. Rahotu, December Hi, 1014. [Mr Hughson should know as well as we do that it was cut and dried before the meeting who »was to be given th-.-work of valuing and that the knowledge of what had been going on was the reason for Mf Maxwell withdrawing his name at the last moment.'! '! ? ? ? ? where the ingraf'tude we complain of came in. We are not at present concernwith the other aspects of the. case Ed.]