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EEPOET.

The Committee to whom, was referred the allegations made by the honourable member for Stratford during the debate on the Financial Statement, published on page 461 of the second volume of Hansard for this session, dated 10th August, 1910, concerning the purchase of private estates by the Crown for the purposes of close settlement, and which are more particularly set out in the order of reference to this Committee, a copy of which is attached hereto, have the honour to report that in accordance with the Committee's request the honourable member for Stratford appeared before the Committee and.made the following charges : — 1. That Charles Edwin Major, in or about the year 1904, while a member of Parliament, conducted the sale to the Government of a property of Frederick Bayly at Toko, and received from the said Frederick Bayly a commission or sum of money for so doing 2 That Charles Edwin Major and Walter Symes, or one of them, in or about the year 1905, while both members of Parliament, conducted the sale to the Government of a property of Alfred Bayly at Toko, and received from the said Alfred Bayly a commission or sum of money, which the said Charles Edwin Major and Walter Symes divided. 3 That the said Walter Symes, in or about the year 1906, and again in 1908, while a member of Parliament, charged, and received from, a number of west coast lessees of Native lands, commissions or sums of money for preparing and conducting petitions in Parliament on their behalf 4. That the said Walter Symes, in the year 1905, while a parliamentary election was presently in prospect in which the said Walter Symes intended to become, and subsequently Became, a candidate, and being then actually a member of Parliament, did threaten or cause to be threatened a certain newspaper that he would use his influence as a member of Parliament to prevent Government advertisements from being given to the said newspaper unless he received the support of, or was treated to his own satisfaction by, the said newspaper during the said election contest. 5. That Thomas Kennedy Macdonald, in or about the year 1904 and subsequent years, while a member of the Legislative Council, either alone or in conjunction with his then partner, a land agent, conducted the sale to the Government of the property of one John Motley Leigh, at Nainai, and the properties of other persons, and received from the said John Motley Leigh and the vendors of such other properties commissions or other sums of money, or, alternatively the said Thomas Kennedy Macdonald and his said partner received the said commissions or other sums and divided the same. 6. That Henare Kaihau, in or about the year 1906, while a member of Parliament, conducted the sale to the Government of a portion of the Te Akau Block, and received from the vendors a commission or other sum of money The Committee recommends that, as the names and charges have been formulated and submitted by Mr Hine, member for Stratford, to this Committee, the said charges be referred to two Judges of the Supreme Court, sitting as a Royal Commission, to investigate and report thereon 19th October, 1910. J A. Hanan, Chairman

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