NATIVE FARMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 145, 21 June 1934, Page 10

NATIVE FARMS.

SCHEMES REVIEWED. COMMISSION'S INQUIRIES. VIEWS OF SUPERVISORS. (By Telesraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. An account of his duties as senior property supervisor and details of tiic management of farming estates under the control of the Department was given lv C. F. Jacobs, of the Native Trust Office, in evidence yesterday before the Native Affairs Commission, which comprises Mr. Justice Smith (chairman), Messrs. L. W. Nelson, J. Alexander and D. G. Johnston. When dealing with the Hakurenga property, witness, was asked by Sir. Johnston if he had told a man on the. station not to give any information about the farm. "Mr. Nelson and I went to liim, and he met us both with the same answer, that you told liim he wasn't to.give us any information at all," Mr. Johnston said. Witness: Not actually to you. They were general instructions. He was a new man 011 the place. He had been there about two months. Sir. Johnston: He was not new to the Native Trust Office. What actually were the general instructions you gave him?

Witness: Just that he was not to give information to a person who asked without specific instructions from the office. Mr. Johnston: You knew at that time that the commission was appointed? Witness: Yes, but I did not tell him to withhold information from you. At that time I had no information from the office that the commission was going to visit the farm. Mr. Alexander: I may tell you, Mr. Jacobs, that what we heard from the manager of the station near Waipiro Bay didn't impress us with the idea that we were being supplied with too much information, so I hope you will dispel any view of that sort which remains in the mind of many of us. Soldiers' Fund. Mr. Justice Smith suggested that the position of the East Coast Soldiers' Fund, with which the Native Trustee was conIcerned, might be cleared up. It seemed 'too much to expect that the Native Trustee would get back, advances amounting to £(5.i,000 from the common fund. There certainly would be nothing more. |- "I think that with reasonable produce [prices, the money can be recovered," Mr. Jacobs said. j Mr. Justice Smith: That is the most you can expect! —Yes. I* I suppose it will be many years before the North Island recovers the advances, and for practical purposes the fund is gone ?—Yes. John Latta, supervisor, said that at the request of the Under-Secretary of i.tlie Native Affairs Department, he made a report on the Heretaunga and Manawatu development schemes, and in this lie had drawn attention to the position which had arisen as a result of lioinij hated occupiers being placed on areas

owned by other natives. In one instance a. person farming a property had no actual interest in the farm except that he happened to be married to a woman who had a slight interest in it. Competent Supervisors. . Witness said he had formed the impression that if the Occupiers' rights were not more clearly defined, there would be trouble among the owners. 1 Mr. Alexander: You have had long experience with the natives of Kaitaia. We have heard from time to time suggestions that there would be difficulty in supervising the operations of the natives, unless the supervisors were persons of their own race. Have you found any difficulty in getting on well with the natives? Witness: None whatever. One could say, then, that so long as a supervisor is competent, firm and just the natives are glad of supervision? — Yes, I can say that definitely. Mr. Nelson asked if witness had been able to carry out properly his duties with regard to properties mortgaged to the Native Trustee. "I must say 110," said witness. The commission adjourned until today.