ALLEGED DUMMYISM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2137, 13 December 1890, Page 3

ALLEGED DUMMYISM.

W EIIIIIN©TON 1 , Dec. 10. A special meeting of the Land Board was held to-day to consider whether dummyism had been practised in connection with the taking up ef about 3000 acres in Makuri and Fuketoi blocks, near Fahiatua. Mr Coleman Phillips, who appeared for the principal parties concerned in the selections, stated that the land was second class land, and he had suggested that it could only be made to qay if thrown open in lots of 5000 acres or thereabouts. He was anxious to take up land in this way, and he went to the Hon. Mr Richardson and suggested that the land should be taken up in large areas. The hon. gentleman explained that there was only one way in which the land could be taken up, and while he was in the room Mr Elliot, the Under-Secretary, asked him (Mr Phillips) if he had no sisters, cousins, or aunts whom he could get to take up land. He went away and took up land in the Dry River district. Among the selectors were several ladies, and they left it to him to work the laud. The Commissioner explained that the applications were not honafide, Mr Phillips contended they were, and accepted full responsibility in the matter- Mr Brandon, solicitor for the ladies in question, explained that the applications were made by his clients at the request of Mr Phillips, who was under the impression that the Minister of Lands had stated that there was no objections to several members of a family taking up land and leaving the head of the family to deal with it. The application had been signed by the ladies in ignorance of the law, and when the seriousness of the position had been pointed out to them, it was decided to throw up the land. Mr Phillips was instructed to take steps in that direction, and they were surprised that.it had not been done. The Board adjourded for a week, in order to give the Minister of Lands an opportunity of making an explanation.