When newspapers reported Kuroda's plan to sell the properties, opposition parties severely criticized it alleging that it had been plotted by Tomoatsu GODAI, who was a merchant from Satsuma and had a connection with the government (Kaitakushi Kanyubutsu Haraisage Jiken [Incident Concerning Sale of the Properties Owned by the Hokkaido Development Commission]).
黒田の払い下げ計画が新聞報道されると、在野はこれを薩摩出身の政商五代友厚のたくらみによるものだとして、激しく非難した（開拓使官有物払下げ事件）。