INVESTIGATION OF CHARGES

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21034, 9 December 1933, Page 14

INVESTIGATION OF CHARGES

NATIVE DEPARTMENT DIFFICULTIES OF GOVERNMENT [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.l WELLINGTON, December 8. In spite of the opinion expressed by the Controller and Auditor-Gen-eral (Colonel G. F. C. Campbell) in a letter read to the House of Representatives yesterday by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) a section of Government members is emphatic that the appointment of a Royal Commission of Enquiry will be the only satisfactory way of investigating fully the charges which have been made against the administration of the Native Affairs Department. In his letter Colonel Campbell suggested that it would be better for the investigation to continue as at present by the audit inspectors. Many members feel, however, that now that the charges against the department and the Minister have been made public, the only way to satisfy the public mind will be through investigation by a tribunal such as a Royal Commission, which is responsible to the Crown and not to Parliament. It is understood that their opinions, if not already placed before the Government, will be made known definitely within the next few days.

The whole matter is a very difficult one for the Government, and at the moment it is not at all certain what steps will be taken, or indeed whether any action will be taken in addition to the enquiry which is now proceeding. In the meantime, probably in a second Finance Bill, important amendments to the Native Land Act will be brought down, designed to pl*ce extensive powers dealing with land development at present held by the Native Minister in the hands of the Maori Land Development Board.