“ BEST OF A BAD JOB.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3310, 31 August 1911, Page 7

“ BEST OF A BAD JOB.”

THE MOKAU ENQUIRY. WHY THE NATIVES ACCEPTED. {PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION. T WELLINGTON, August 30. TIIO Native Affairs Committee re the Moikau inquiry sat to-day, Mr. W. D. S. MacDonald being the only absentee. Tuiti McDonnell, Native Land Court agent, said the first business in. the Mokau ease was before the Native Land Court at Te Kuiti in November of last year, when he acted for some of the Native owners, asking for permission to deal with hlcck H, containing 15,000 acres. The application was dismissed, and they la,ter saw the Commission’s report regarding the invalidity of Jones’ leases, and it was decided to consult Mr. H. D. Bell, who' said the leases of all the other hlocks, but .block H, were unassailable. On behalf of his clients he objected to the sale of the block, one owner objecting to selling a,t all, and the other that the price was net high enough, as neighboring and similar

land had realised £2 per acre. The Board decided! against them, and they again consulted Mr. Bell, who asked for £IOO for ibis past services, and £BOO to (provide a fighting fund. He said if the £BOO were not forthcoming, that would be the end of their case. At the next- meeting of the owners and the President of the Land Board, Mr. Skerrett appeared, and pointed out to the Natives the advantage of selling and thus saving litigation, although he. did not. press this point. As they did net have any funds the committee did not send for Mr. Bell, as the" thought they could defeat, the proposal even without him. As the meeting progressed some of witness’s clients showed signs l of wavering and going over to the other side, and during, the next fortnight the Mohan Company agreed to pay the Native owners £25,000 and £2500 worth of shares. It was on, account of the shares giving the Natives an interest in the block that they gave way and agreed to sell. Witness accordingly grave consent on behalf cf his clients at the next meeting of the Land Board. The Natives agreed to give 10 per cent of the, purchase money towards the defraying of legal and other costs, but although most of them had been paid, the money for costs was not yet, forthcoming. The President o,f the Lard Bo,arc! was at present holding about £I3OO of. this money in trust.

Examined by Mr. Massey, witness said the Natives were not compelled to sell to Lewis or go to litigation), but could—as a third course—have approached the Government with a view to the Government taking over the land. Mr. Bell’s suggestions of a fighting fund was to provide for costs of the other side if the Natives failed in, their ease. Witness knew of no other instance where an Order-in-Counci 1 was issued to enable the sale of Native land larger in area than, provided for by the Act of 1909. Witness admitted telling Mr Massey a. few davs ago that in his opinion the transaction was a gigantic swindle.

R.eolvini'T to the Hon,. A. T. Ngata, witness said he understood that unless they found the money Mr Bell could not attend the Court, as Mr. Bell said ho was not a. nopuuin , and it would take more, than five shillings to load him. Except the' President of the _ Land Board, witness had no communication during the negotiations with any Government official. Witness had opposed Parata in 1905 as an Independent Oppositionist. Reviving to, Mr. Dive (Eganont). witness said he was himself responsible: for most of the adjournments of the Court, as he wished to secure funds to fi<dit for his clients. Witness, when he mentioned the affair as a gigantic swindle, meant to convev that. that was a £ ‘street opinion,.” To Mr. Ferries (Tauranga,), witness said the Natives accepted the company’s offer as the best, solution of a bad job. Witness represented the majority of the owners of the -wbele block. At this stage, the Committee adjourned until to-morrow.