NATIVE SETTLEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 260, 2 November 1932, Page 5

NATIVE SETTLEMENTS.

HOW IS MONEY SPENT? INQUIRY IN PARLIAMENT. FULLEK INFORMATION SOUGHT, (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Fuller information on the various schemes of native land settlement was sought by Mr. K. S. Williams (Government, Bay of Plenty), in an analytical examination of the subject in the House last night.

While congratulating the Minister, Sir Apiraua Ngata, on his statement in connection with the Ngapuhis' activities, Mr. Williams said there were matters dealt with in the report of the National Expenditure Commission which required clearing up. He did not wish to be critical, but when it came to the expenditure of public money it was only right that the House should have the fullest information. The policy of native land development wa3 excellent, and he would be the last to attempt criticism of the work.

The question of native rates was one that needed the urgent attention of die Government. There were some native lands which were not capable of paying rates, but there were others in process of development, or fully developed, which could afford to contribute their share towards local body finances. The Government should either decide that native rates were to be a charge on the Consolidated Fund or the natives should be compelled to pay. He urged the Government to push forward the granting of individual titles to native landholders. In his district there was a number of families anxious to settle down, but there appeared to be unnecessary delay in the issuing of titles. The longer the matter was delayed the more complicated it became, because the death of the head of a family meant that the rights to the land were divided up.

Purchase at Whakatane. Mr. Williams said he hoped the Minister would give the House details of a land transaction adjacent to Whakatane, in .which 4187 acres had. been purchased for £8419 from white people. After inspection of the land he considered the bargain was a poor one. Much of,the area was hilly and could not be worked with a plough and' harrows. The mistake had been made of burning off in November, and sowing English grass. It was generally considered that burning in November, meant that rank growth, such as fern, came up before the grass, with the result that the land was no more advanced than it had been before the burning. He had also inspected a Maori settlement at Kangitaiki, near the Galatea estate, and he thought it would have been better to spend the money in establishing these people, who were already on tbe laud,

than to buy the Whakatane property.

Maori Purposes Board. Mr. Williams said he noticed that the commission referred to the number of boards connected with Maori activities. As far as he knew he was a member of one of them, the Maori Purposes Fund Board. He emphasised the phrase, "as far as he knew," because he had not heard anything of the board's activities for two years. About two years ago he had received a ttlegram from the Minister asking whether he approved of the appointment of an officer to inspect tubercular cases among the Maoris. He had replied that he was willing to agree to the appointment provided the Minister considered the person fit and able to do the job. After the Napier earthquake he received another telegram, asking whether he

would conform to a proposal to spend a sum of money for the purpose of helping Maoris who had suffered losses as the result of the disaster. He had agreed to that proposal, hut had received no notice of meetings to confirm these transactions. If he was a member of the hoard he would have to take his responsibility with the rest of the hoard, .and he thought the Minister should tell the House the real position.

"Only Human." Mr. Williams said he did not wish to criticise the expenditure of money on native land development, but the money expenditure should .he accounted for. After all, the Maoris, like the pakeha, were only human, and when it came to the expenditure of State money the House had a right to know how it was being spent. Parliament had to see that there was no unnecessary waste, just as it had in the case of the settlement of white people. Mr. Williams said he had inspected the development work at Rotorua, and he thought the Minister would have been wiser to restrict himself to a smaller area. There was no doubt about the enthusiasm of the natives there, hut it was just a question. whether the work was being done economically.