NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMISSION

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21198, 23 June 1934, Page 14

NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMISSION

MAORI PURPOSES FUND BIAS IN ADMINISTRATION DENIED (PRXSS ASSOCIATION - TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June ,22. The charge made before the Native Affairs Commission recently that the administration of the Maori Purposes Fund had been partial and biased toward an unnamed religious body was given an emphatic denial by the Rev. Father J. J. Riordan, of Otaki, on behalf of the Roman Catholic Missions to Maoris. In evidence at the continuation of the enquiry in Wellington to-day, Father Riordan said he had neyer known any circumstance which would suggest religious bias or geographical favouritism. In referring to the development schemes, the witness said he thought the Native Minister had achieved wonders in the face of tremendous difficulties, and that it was a matter for congratulation that more mistakes had not been made. He urged the continuation and extension of the work for complete development of the Maori intellectually, socially, morally, and nationally. Evidence was called from Chief Judge Jones of the Native Land Court, and formerly under-secre-tary of the department. He told of the difficulties under which the head office had been working for the last four or five years, and stated that the whole staff had been forced to work back until late at night to cope with the tremendous pressure of duties. He admitted that shortage of staff had impaired the efficiency of the office, and when asked who was to blame for this state of affairs he said that he supposed he himself was, as he had been unable to get anything done. Questions About a Letter

Mr R.. H. Quilliam, who is assisting the commission, asked Chief Judge Jones if he remembered writing to the Native Minister recommending the purchase of a property. In the letter, he had stated that the farm supervisor of the district had inspected the property. Actually, no report by the supervisor had been found on the files at the Native Land Court. Witness: That information would be supplied to me. Mr Quilliam: There is no letter that suggested anything of that kind, and the supervisor himself at Rotorua said he had nothing whatever to do with the purchase. Witness: I must have been misled then. Mr Quilliam: How could vou be misled? Witness: The letter would be put before me by somebody in the office to sign. I would go through it to see if it was in order, and then sign it. Mr Quilliam: What does going through it mean? Would you look through the files for a report? I might explain that in very many cases connected with the purchase of land the files contain no reports of anv kind. Witness: I am surprised to hear that. Mr Quilliam: It rather suggests that your part in the department was purely nominal. "Tremendous Pressure." To Mr G. P. Finlav, the witness said the work of the office had been done under tremendous pressure. The staff had to work back almost every night until nine or 10 o'clock. He himself had worked every night until 11 o'clock, except on Saturdays and Sundays. One of the boys in the office had had a nervous breakdown. How long did these conditions continue?— They have continued over the last three or four years. Mr Finlay: What were the activities of the Minister at this time? Was he working easily or was he also working long hours? Witness: He was working long hours, and attending to his Parliamentary duties as well. Mr Finlay: The work of the department was done under tremendous pressure by the whole staff? Witness: Yes. We all tried to do our best, and I am satisfied that all the officers, as well as the typists, did their best. The commission adjourned until Monday morning.