I.—sb.

Thursday, 21st August, 1913. The Committee met at 10 a.m. pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Guthrie (Chairman), Mr. Anderson, Hon. Mr. Buddo, Mr. Coates, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Macdonald, Mr. Nosworthy, Mr. T. W. Bhodes, Mr. Robertson, Mr. Statham, Mr. Witty. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Paper No. 98 G. —Resolved, on motion of Mr. Nosworthy, That the evidence in connection with this paper be printed. The Committee then adjourned. Thursday, 2nd October, 1913. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m. pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. E. Newman (Chairman), Mr. Anderson, Hon. Mr. Buddo, Mr. Coates, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Mac Donald, Hon. Mr. Massey, Mr. Nosworthy, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, Mr. R. W. Smith, Mr. Statham, Mr. Witty. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Paper No. 98 G. —Deliberation. Resolved, on motion of Hon. Mr. Massey, That the following report be adopted : — " That the Lands Committee, to whom the paper dealing with the proposed sale of a small section at Cheviot was referred, has examined a number of witnesses, including the UnderSecretary for Lands; the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Canterbury; Mr. Gibson, an ex-member of the Canterbury Land Board; Mr. Gee, a resident of Cheviot and a member of the Land Board ; and others, and have to report that there is not the slightest evidence to support the suggestion that either the Minister of Lands or the Lands Department was actuated or influenced by political motives in deciding to offer the section by auction under the conditions of the Cheviot Estate Disposition Act, 1893, and that in the opinion of this Committee the statement made by Mr. Gibson in his letter quoted by Mr. Forbes, MP., which reads as follows —' Mr. Massey's supporters had approached him to allow the section to remain in possession of the previous tenant who farms the adjoining land' —was without foundation in fact." Mr. Forbes moved the following resolution : — " That, after hearing the evidence on the subject, and in view of the fact that the Canterbury Land Board, acting on the report of its Rangers, recommended the offering for selection on renewable lease, Section 20, Block IX, Cheviot Survey District, this Committee is of opinion that such recommendation should be given effect to." On the question being put, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 5 : Hon. Mr. Buddo, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Mac Donald, Mr. R. W. Smith, Mr. Witty. Noes, 8: Mr. Anderson, Mr. Coates, Mr. Guthrie, Hon. Mr. Massey, Mr. E. Newman, Mr. Nosworthy, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, Mr. Statham. So it passed in the negative. Resolved, on motion of Mr. E. Newman, That the resolutions of the Committee be reported to the House.

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