MR. DINNIE'S APPOINTMENT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 869, 16 July 1910, Page 3

MR. DINNIE'S APPOINTMENT.

Sir,—The appointment of Mr. Dinnie to the position of President of a. Maori Land Board has created intense dissatisfaction, and I thoroughly endorse the many strong comments which, have been made in connection therewith. I have i no wish to cast the slightest reflection on.Mr. Dinnie personally, but I cannot too strongly condemn the sys7 tem which allows such an improper, appointment. Are there no men in the Native Department, with'the necessary experience, capable of carrying out the duties incidental.to a position of this kind? I am sure there are, and I consider the ac J .ion of the Cabinet is a direct insult to the Native Department.' Many of tbe older and moro capable membera of this Department have unnecessarily suffered through the recent retrenchment. Among others, I may mention Mr. Elsdon Best, who has been in the Public Service for fifteen years, and his duties have brought him into close contact with the Maori people, by whom he is respected and liked. Mr. Best's'reputation is almost world-wide as a Maori scholar and a writer whoso works must be well .known to many of your readers, and yet we ■ find this gentleman, who; I am sure, would be admirably qualified for the position of chairman of a Native Land Board, is and an outsider.with no Native experience has been given tho appointment. There are other old officers of the Department whom I might mention as having greater claims to the appointment than Mr 1 . Dinnie, but I .foar to trespass further upon your space. — I am, etc.,' MAORI PAKEHA. . Wellington, July 13, 191o!