MAORI PROBLEMS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21437, 1 April 1935, Page 12

MAORI PROBLEMS

BOARO OF NATIVE AFFAIRS NEED FOR SYMPATHY j DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT j [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, March 30. "Nothing repels the Maori more than cold, hard officialdom," said the Prime Minister (the lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes) in the House oi Representatives this morning while moving the second reading of the Board of Native Affairs Bill. "If they came in contact with anyone who does not sympathise with them and- understand their problems, very little can be done with them. It must b'e remembered that they have been living in a civilised state for only a comparatively short time, and that if they are persuaded to go on with their land development and other schemes they must be treated with knowledge and kindness" The debate on the Native Affairs Bill did not arouse much interest, and few members took the opportunity to speak on native problems. Mr Forbes explained the purpose of the legislation —the establishment of a board similar to the Native Land Settlement Board it was to replace. Its administration would be much the same as that of the Lands Department, with a head office in Wellington and various district native committees with much the same functions as the land boards. The committee wor'i advise the central board on the working of land development and other schemes, and this advice would be particularly valuable since It would come from practical men with a knowledge of local problems. At present there were supervisors who looked after the schemes. Under the provisions of the bill they would work in co-operation with the committees, whose functions, like those of the land boards, would be of a purely advisory nature

Advisory Functions Mr A. J. Stallworthy (Ind., Eden): Surely you don't suggest that the present land boards are only advisory. . ! il Mr Forbes: All administrative powers are held by the Commissioner of Crown Lands and his office. The land boards merely advise and have no administrative authority. Mr Stallworthy: Then who will be In the position of the Commissioner? Mr Forbes: The chairman of the board and the judges of the Native Land Court. Mr Forbes said that the Government's one desire was to go ahead with the policy of developing Maori lands and to encourage the natives to become good farmers. These were matters which could not be dealt with by a central board in Wellington. but required the attention of experienced men who knew their problems and wbo were prepared to devote a good deal of their time to helping the Maoris. x \ Labour Yievv Mr E. Langstone (Lab.. Waimarlno). who replied for the Labour party, did not have much to say about the bill. He talked about the «iifßculties of native land settlement and wondered why the Government tolerated "this crude, cumbersome, expensive, and unsatisfactory method" of dealing with it. Mr Langstone thought all native lands should be taken over by a Government department and administered as a State trust. In that way he thought that all revenue would be collected and distributed regularly and fairly to the native beneficiaries. There appeared to be nothing in the Prime Minister's bill to safeguard the interests of the Maori, and it was to be honed that the Government would follow this legislation up with some simple and just system. The pakeha had not made any serious effort to understand native problems.

Mr E. T. Tirikatane (Ind., Southern Maori)- said that the Maori trusteeship had been turned into a commercial proposition, and that the welfare of £ the native race was not its only care. «■ The bill before the House would eeri. *"'nly lead to some improvement, but | J 'io Government had far to go beJ'frre it could regard its duty to the | Maori proDerly fulfilled. The establishment of a central Board of Native * Affairs micht entail extra expense £ for the native beneficiary. Mr Tiri- * katene thought that there should be taome provision making members of »;the board personally liable for their ...actions—that at least would be a safe';guard. The formation of district fe native committees was a wise step, £but the constitution of these commitjjtees might well be altered. At pre*sent there was provision for tho apIpolntment of two men with experi•s'ence of nractical farming, but at least t'one of these should be an expert in * Maori psychology. & Maori Grievances ? Mr Tirikatene referred to several J long-standing Maori grievances, including the signing over of native ■' reserves to the South Island, and said - that the Maori people looked to Parliajaent as a lather and protector. Many petitions had been presented to - the House and ignored. The position 'of many, native beneficiaries would i not be tolerated by the pakeha, and I ; tho,3?ace as a whole was looking to Parliament for material relief. I "It is ever my hope that we shall not be called by the names applied -.to natives of other countries," de- > clared Mr Taite Te Tomo (C., Western Maori), speaking through an interpreter. Mr Te Tomo said that the i Maori people were complaining about >the Natiye Trustee keeping their money. Seme had received no grants for 10 years. The Government should 1 permit lestiees to pay their rent direct ;to the native, but at the same time ino Maori, should be entitled to expect undue assistance from the Gov- " Mr Te Tomo advocated a housing scheme for the poorer native Spxne of his people were living in sack huta in the most degrading pov- ; crty.' Work of sir Apirana Ngatu Mr W. J. Broadfoot (C., Waitomo) ; praised the work of the former Native 'Minister, and said that the Native Affairs Commission had dealt with trivialities, missing the big objective. Returns now available showed that the development schemes compared /very favourably in cost with other 'State departments. In the North Auck•land district there had been a total 'expenditure of £177,000, and of that sum £71,000 had been repaid. The development work throughout the country had been of tremendous value ■to the natives, but there was still ; wonderful opportunity for expansion, as there were large areas waiting to be brought info productivity. Mr : Broadfoot hoped that Mr Forbes . Would carry on and enlarge the work ■a ably begun by Sir Apirana Ngat.a. The solution of the Maori problem lay in the development of native land,