40

C. E. MAJOR.

1.—14.

13. I should like to know somewhere about the date?—[Ledger referred to.] I can give you the approximate date to almost within a week. He died some time during the latter end of September or the early part of October, 1905. 14. That apparently would be a year before this purchase of Alfred Bayly s place was completed?— Yes. , j- -j j 15 Mr Skerrett.] Charge No. 2, Mr. Major, is that you and Mr Symes divided a commission received from Mr Alfred Bayly in connection with the sale of his property to the Government. Is there any truth in the statement that you received or divided a commission with Mr Symes?— Not the slightest. . , , , » , , ~ n 16. Have you divided any other commission connected with the sale ot lands to the bnvernment with Mr Symes?—No. . 17 Right Hon. Sir J G Ward.] I want to ask you, Mr Major, in connection with the sale of this property, was any influence exercised by you at any time with any one connected with the late Government in order to effect this purchase?—Do you refer to charge No. 2 ? 18 Yes I *—No, save that I wrote a letter to the Premier I have no memory of having written it except from the reminder I got from the file. I wrote it at the instance of Mr Arndt, saying that the land would be a good purchase—which is proved by the fact that it is now double the value as compared with the price at which the Government acquired it. _ 19 Have you at any time received any payment from the Government m connection with the negotiations or sale of any land to the Land Purchase Board?— Never in my life, nor have I ever expected any . . . . 20 In this property or any other property have you divided any commission which you are alleged to have received with any Government officer?— No. 21 What is your answer to this statement made in the charge connected with Mr Symes— is it true or untrue 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 ' ?—lt is absolutely untrue. * It is evidently a fishing excursion on the part of Mr Hme. 22 Mr Allen.] Have you a copy of the letter that you sent to the Prime Minister about April, 1904?_The chances are that a copy could be discovered. I will tell you what I did with reference to that Before leaving Auckland I telegraphed to a late clerk of mine to whom I assigned my business in Hawera, asking him to forward all correspondence that he could find in connection with any transaction affecting Mr Fred. Bayly's sale. I had no knowledge that I had even written a letter in connection with Alfred Bayly's sale. I wrote to him asking him to send everything down but I have not heard from him. Ido not know where he may be. I wired him on my arrival in Wellington He must be away The documents would be in the Hawera office, 1 suppose I turned them over to him, to all intents and purposes. 23 Had you any correspondence with the Land Purchase Board about Mr F. Bayly s estate? —Yes, through Mr Barron. The whole of the correspondence was on the file produced here this morning. _ 24 The whole of the correspondence is on the hie I—Yes.1 —Yes. 25 Then with regard to Alfred Bayly, could you get the correspondence?— There was only one letter I had no memory of sending that till this morning I did not know I had even written the letter but by reason of "the letter from the late Mr Seddon that was on the file and was read this morning in which he stated to Mr Barron that I had written to him, my memory then came to me that Mr Arndt asked me to write to Mr Seddon bearing out my contention that this was a good bit of property and worth acquiring _ 26. May I ask, Mr. Chairman, whether, if Mr Major has a copy of that letter, it can be Pr 27 The Chairman.] Has not the original been produced ?—No, I have not got it. Not being a business letter, the chances are that I would not copy it. 28. Mr Allen.] Had you any correspondence about Alfred Bayly's estate?— Not other than as just stated. . , „. . 29 I understand the whole of the correspondence about Fred. Bayly s estate is on the file <— Yes. Ihere would be only that one letter, and the chances are that if I wrote it at Stratford there would not be a copy, but if I wrote it at Hawera there would very likely be a copy 30 Do you think you have a copy ?—lf I have a copy I will produce it to the Chairman 31 Mr Eraser.] In regard to the charge No. 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," you said, in reply to Sir Joseph Ward, that it was not true so far as you were concerned? —Yes. 32 You said "It is absolutely untrue " : do you mean absolutely the whole charge is untrue, or untrue so far as you are concerned? —So far as I am concerned. I have no knowledge except so far as I am myself concerned. 33. The Chairman.] While you were a member of Parliament did you reside at Hawera t —Yes. 34. What business did you carry on?—As a licensed land-broker. 35. Did you carry that business on all the time you were in Parliament? —Yes. 36. In what capacity did you write that letter to the late Mr, Seddon?—As a friend of Mr Arndt's,