MOKAU JONES’ CLAIMS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2642, 26 October 1909, Page 5

MOKAU JONES’ CLAIMS

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PREMIER. [Per Press Association.! WELLINGTON, October 25. Air. Joshua Jones, who has for years been prominently before the public in connection with an area or 56,000 acres of land in the Mokau district, waited on the Prime Minister tins afternoon, accompanied by Messrs Jennings and Okey, M.P.’s. He complained that the Native Land Commission had reported on the land in a manner that was unfair to him, seeing that he was given no opportunity to be present, and that Sir Robert Stout was a member of tlie Commission, as he had previously presided over the Court of Appeal when it dealt with the subject. He asked that the report of the Native Land Commission be withdrawn, and that effect be given to the recommendation of a committee of the Legislative Council that a tribunal should be set up to inquire fully into the subject. It was also pointed out that land settlement north of Taranaki and south of Auckland was being retarded by the existence of the present state affairs. The Prime Minister said he would be to look into the whole matter, but he doubted whether it would bo possible to withdraw the report of a Royal Commission. However, he would see that full inquiry was made, and he added that there were difficulties in regard to the matter which he would be only too glad to see removed.