7

I.—sb.

J. STEAUCHON.

69. And would make one more competitor for this land? —No doubt. 70. LLou. Mr. Buddo.] Is there any fixed rule whereby the Under-Secretary of Lands could accept the recommendation of the Land Board or decline to accept it? Is it left entirely to the Under-Secretary of Lands as to what he recommends or what the Land Board recommends? — The Land Board may recommend something which would not be at all suitable. The Ranger might also recommend something, and then the position is put before the Minister, but I take the action myself. 71. Would you be justified in setting aside the recommendation of the Land Board if the Land Board recommended what was strictly within the four corners of the Land Act, and recommend some other proposal to the Minister? —It might be within the four corners of the Act and not be a fair thing to do with the land. I may think that we could dispose of the land better. 72. Mr. Mac Donald.] You stated that you did not consider it your duty to consider any class of applicant, but that your main duty is to get a fair price for the land ?—That is one of my views, certainly. lam no party man at all. I take no interest in that at all. 73. Then are you under the impression that the Government value is not a fair value for the land? —I do not remember what the Government valuation is. 74. Generally speaking, that must be the case? —Sometimes it is under the value and sometimes over the value. 75. If you considered that to get a fair price for this land it would have to be submitted to public auction, then I want to know if you considered the Government valuation of such land is not a fair value? —Not always. 76. And when it comes under your notice that it is not a fair value, then you do not get a revaluation but submit it to public auction? —Sometimes. 77. Mr. Anderson.] You say you recommended it should be put up to public auction in order to get a fair price?— That is so. * 78. Instead of letting it on the renewable lease at the Government valuation, which you say you do not remember? —No, I have not the slightest idea what it was. 79. You could not tell me whether there was any possible goodwill in it? —No, I cannot say, but as a rule our valuations give too much goodwill. That is our trouble. We experience, that very largely indeed —that people trade on it and get in at our low valuations, and then turn it over at large profits. 80. In recommending cash, seeing that there was lime on the section, was your object to get a really fair price for the section without consideration for the applicants at all? —Yes, that is so, without any consideration of the applicants. I wanted a fair value for the country—that is all. 81. Mr. Statham.] Was any influence of any kind brought to bear to put this land up to auction? —None whatever —not the slightest influence. It was discussed between the Assistant Under-Secretary and myself. No influence was brought on me at all; I can absolutely say that. 82. Mr. Coates.] In your opinion was the sale in the best interests of the Dominion?—l think so. 83. Would you explain to me why you recommended a sale instead of a ballot. I understand there were some three local applicants?— Yes, it appears so from the papers. 84. In your opinion would those local applicants have a better chance by auction or by ballot?— They would have a better chance by auction, because if it had been by ballot hundreds may go in for those small sections. 85. And did that influence you at all?— Yes, I was looking at getting the value. I knew nothing of the applicants. 86. It was not to give the local men any advantage over others?— No. I was not looking to give any advantage to the local men over others. They are all the same to me. 87. You do not remember the Government values?— No. 88. Mr. T. W. Rhodes.] In acting in this matter you simply exercised your prerogative as head of the Department in making a recommendation to the Minister? —Yes. 89. And your idea-was that if it was offered by public auction every one would have a fair chance, and the man who thought it was of most value to him would have the best chance of getting it?— Yes. That is the fairest way of disposing of it. 90. Mr. Coates.] Is 8| acres sufficient for a man to make a living off?— There are 7 acres 1 rood 20 perches. There has been a road taken out of it. 91. Would it be sufficient for a man to make a living off? —It would be a very small living. I take it he would have to go to work elsewhere. He may leave his family there. 92. What class of lime would be taken off?— Agricultural lime, I understand. 93. Do they treat the lime in any way?—l have no idea. 94. He could only make a living off it by the sale of lime? —He would have to go and work elsewhere. Of course, it would depend upon what he was doing largely. 95. Under the renewable-lease tenure would he be allowed to remove the lime?— Yes. I do not think lime is classed in the minerals. I take it he would. 96. And sell it?— Well, I do not know about selling it. He would be able to remove it for himself. He would be breaking the section if he did that. He would have to get the permission of the Board. 97. And after the lime was removed a certain portion of the property would not be of any value?—No, not for a time, until it was covered up in some way, or unless it was like Oamarii stone. There are lots of places in Oamaru district where the stone has been taken out from very considerable heights and now it is all grass. 98. And with this in your mind you thought that by a sale a man would have a better chanoe of doing well off the section?— Yes. I thought a man had a better chance of getting it if he was absolutely set on getting it.