WAIRARAPA NATIVE SCANDAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1918, Page 7

WAIRARAPA NATIVE SCANDAL.

STATEMENT BY MINISTERS.

The report of the Royal Commission on the case of the Eutopeanisation of R&ngi Kerclioma was referred to Parliament the other day. Mr Biehop, Dlic Commissioner, ard Kerehoma have both died since the enquiry was held.

The report of the Commission was distinct that the Native Land Court was deceived into approving of Kerehoioa'3 Europeanisation, and Mat a commission agent, Chennells, and Beard, a solicitor, who got tho order from the Court, did so far the purpose of acquiring the native's land, and that a gross fraud was perpetrated. Unfortunately Chennells, though lis acted in the matter as commission agent, wa3 also a district agent of the Public Trust office, hut tho Trust Offico disclaimed all responsibility. g It appeared from a- statement made by Mr Berries, who said he was sure everyone would feel the indignation ho felt that restitution had been made by a monetary payment of £15,000, that ho had been assured by Mr Moirison, counsel to Kerehoma, that full restitution had been made; that everything that Kerehoma demanded from Clicnnells and Beard had been paiiT over to the estate. So far as ho knew the case had been met as far as possible by restitution. The land was Still held by the two' families, but full monetary restitution, as demanded by counsol x'or Kerehoma, 'had been paid over. It was pointed out that the tribal interests had suffered, and the Government was urged to see tliat tho lands alienated were restored, and the Minister promised to bring tile matter before Cabinet.

Sir Joseph Ward read details from the Commissioners' report to show that the Public Trust Office was exonerated. When application was made for a Commission, it was at ones acceded to, and the whole of the expenses of the in* quiry had been defrayed by the Government. Tiie matter had never come in any way under bi3 notice 113 Min-ister-in-Charge of tho Public Trust Office; but he felt it only right that it should bs probed to the bottom. Ohcr.nells had not been at any time an officer of tho Public Trust Office, but wp,s a district agent receiving a eommiii.iinn •"! the business that came Ihrouf'h iiim. He wished to say that the Conir.iU-iionors' report absolved the Public Trust Department and its officers completely from being associated in Any way, directly or indirectly, with this fraud. It ms a fraud of suc'lv a nature tha. 1 ; If it had been possible for the Commission to take action in the matter against ilia two men it would ha i'f> been done. But the legal advicie he received was that the only perSbn ' w'.io could take such action was Ftevehoma, and that evidence given befob a Commission could not be used (ts if it had been given in a court of lavr fov the 'purposes of any action. Incidentally-,a recommendation was fnade by the .Commissioner that the Europcanisation. of Natives should not under any circumstances be permitted, hut the Native Minister said he considered that matter was outside tfhe Commissioner's order of refence.