MEMBERS OBJECT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 252, 24 October 1934, Page 9

MEMBERS OBJECT.

NATIVE ESTIMATES. GOVERNMENT CRITICISED. COMMISSION REPORT WANTED (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Criticism of the Government for permitting- the Native Land Settlement Account estimates to be discussed by the House of Representatives before the report of the Native Affairs Commission, whii'li is now in the hands of the Government, was made public was heard to-day from members of the Opposition. The Native Minister, Sir Apirana Ngata, while expressing his gratitude for the consideration shown liiin by members, explained that lie was not responsible for the arrangement by whL-h the estimates, were considered. "I think it is about time something was done in regard to the way the affairs of the House are conducted," said Mr. K. McKeen (Labour, Wellington South). He said the commission had presented its report ami members were being asked to deal with estimates that might have a bearing 011 the recommendations of the commission. Surely it was unfair to ask the House to deal with tile matters under those circumstances. Mr. R. Scmplo (Labour, Wellington East) said he wanted to record his protest against the tactics used by the Government. The House had shown patience, tolerance and more than fair play as far as the Native Department was concerned, and it seemed to him that because of that the patience of members was to be stretched to a point that was almost insufferable. The policy of the Department had been under serious investigation, and the House was "called on to pass thousands of pounds. "I hope. I will have the opportunity of telling the House and the country what I think of the whole business later on," he said. "It is a monstrous thing to ask public men to vote tens of thousands of pounds of public money awav in view of the fact that the Department has been under grave suspicion and that there has been a most searching investigation."

"Estimates Must Go Through." Mr. J. A. Nash (Government. Palmerston North) said the House had a discussion 011 the matter when the main estimates were being considered. The estimates had to go through. How could the affairs of the Native Department proceed tlie e«>timates were hclu up? It was far short of a public scandal and he thought it was overstepping the mark to make such a suggestion. Supply must be granted. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. 51. J. Savage, sai.'. the House was being asked to do more than kee"/ the Department going. "We are adding considerable to the amount asked for," he said. In 'one scheme £22,072 had been spent last year, and this year £33,711 was beinnr asked. It was not unreasonable to request that the House should know the position before being asked to vote the money. "I know this request lias been made before," he said, and I definitely say that it will be made again from one end of the country to the Last year, Mr. Savage added. £45,40(5 was spent for subsidies of relief works carried out 011 development schemes, including administration, and this year £81,821 was being asked for. "These things may be all right, but we don t know," he said. "We have read the evidence in the newspapers, and that is the only way we have of finding out anything."

Cavalier Treatment. Mr. W. A. Vcitcli (Independent, Wanganui) said that if the Estimates were not passed till next year the work of the Native Department would go on just the same. He wanted to draw attention to the cavalier manner in which the House was being treated in connection with this unique incident in the political history of New Zealand. The Minister would have been wise not to have created the situation, that had arisen. Again Sir Apirana Ngata said lie acknowledged the generosity that members had displayed towards the Department and to himself. Tnc Estimates before the House were not the Estimates of tjie Native Department, but of the Native Land Settlement Boa-d, which had on it four heads of Departments, as well as the Minister, tlie Under-Secretary for Native Affairs and two lay men. They had spent four months on the Estimates before details were completed. Prior to last years alterations the Estimates would have been submitted as one of the separate loan accounts, but now the account was an account within the Public Woiks

Account. , . , "The Native Land Settlement Accounts are before this Chamber before discussion takes place on the report of the Native Land Commission," said the Minister. "The report was in the hands of the Government some time to-day. I have not seen it. I have not asked for it, and I am as ignorant as my friends on the Labour side of the House of its contents. "Is It Something Else?"

"Is the concern of the House with the amount of money voted or something else?" Sir Apirana asked. He pointed out that the Estimates provided for £90,000 less than the House was called on to vote last year. Operations could not be stopped in a month or six months. Even if the programme were suspended, certain things had to be carried on, such as the purchase of stock. "The Estimates now before the committee reflect the work, not of the Minister, who is under a cloud and who is on trial, but the work of four heads of Departments and lay men, who concentrated on every detail," he added. "I am sorry that for the second time it has become necessary to this question in the manner in which it has been discussed this afternoon, but I would like to acknowledge again the generosity which members have displayed to the Department and to the Minister." Mr. E. T. Tirikatene (Southern Maori) said he was sorry the Government had so little tact as to allow the Estimates to be discussed prior to the report of the commission. Mr. Semple, referring to the Minister's remarks about "something else," said that as far as he (Mr. Semple) _was concerned there was no feeling against the Native Minister or the Department. The principle adopted was wrong. The Estimates were passed. One of the most remarkable houses is in New Jersey, U.S.A. The shape of an elephant, it contains six rooms, which are reached by spiral staircases in the imitation "hind legs." The howdah on the animal's back is 05 feet from, the ground. _ _ .. I