AGY-5197 | Royal Commission into Matters Affecting the Lands Department and Western Lands Commission

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After a speech given by J. T. Lang, Judge Cecil A. White was appointed Sole Commissioner to investigate –

1. the correctness of allegations made by the Honorable James Thomas Lang regarding improper conduct on the part of the Government of NSW, the Local Land Board for the Administrative District of Hillston, and public officers in connection with the conflicting applications made by Phillip Henry Pike, Henry Clements Moulder, William John Norris, and Hector Robert Brewer for leases under the Western Lands Act 1901
2. whether the Local Land Board or any of it’s members was guilty of misconduct in connection with the conflicting applications
3. whether the Minister for Lands or any other public officer refused James Ignatius Doyle, the holder of Soldiers’ Group Purchases in the District of Dunedoo, any concessions so as to force him to sell his lands to Peter Ffench Loughlin by a contract made between them
4. whether it was the Minister for Lands or any other public officer of the Department of Lands who gave the information to Peter Ffench Loughlin that the said lands could be purchased from James Ignatius Doyle
5. whether by the said Agreement for Sale Peter Ffench Loughlin bought the land from James Ignatius Doyle subject to Peter Ffench Loughlin discharging all the indebtedness of the said James Ignatius Doyle to the Crown, and whether the Minister for Lands in breach of his duty refused to remit in favour of James Ignatius Doyle any of the said indebtedness but instead remitted some or part of such indebtedness in favour of Peter Ffench Loughlin
6. whether any public officer was guilty of any misconduct in relation to the transfer of the Lands from James Ignatius Doyle to Peter Ffench Loughlin (1)

In his Report, Judge Cecil A. White concluded that no improper conduct had occurred in relation to the applications for Crown Lands, or any misconduct relating to decisions made by the Local Land Board. (2)

The Report also concluded that the transfer of land between James Ignatius Doyle and Peter Ffench Loughlin had proceeded correctly and had not been subject to misconduct or intimidation. (3)


Endnotes
1.Parliamentary Papers 1935-36, Vol 1, Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Certain Matters Affecting the Lands Department and Western Lands Commission, p.89
2.ibid, p.94
3.ibid, p.97-100