NO RACIAL QUESTION

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 146, 18 December 1933, Page 8

NO RACIAL QUESTION

The Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives has recommended the appointment of a Commission with wide powers to investigate the Native land development administration and other questions arising from : the • AuditorGeneral's criticism. The Prime Minister has announced his willingness to accept the Committee's recommendation. It would be untimely, therefore, to comment upon questions which will be the subject of the Commission's inquiries. But it is necessary, especially in view of the Native Minister's speech, to refer to the circumstances leading to the inquiry. The Auditor-General stated that "grave irregularities" had been revealed. Such a statement concerning any branch of Government activity would call for further action, either by the Audit Department or by a special tribunal. The inquiry is to be made in this instance, not because the affairs of the Natives are concerned —the question of pakeha or Maori has no bearing on ,the matter —but because "grave irregularities" are alleged. It would be entirely wrong, and so wrong that we cannot conceive of Parliament contemplating it, to:make this inquiry an attack on the Maori's capacity for business or his integrity. It would be equally wrong to gloss over the whole affair because the Maori is affected, or in fear of raising a racial issue. There is no racial issue. It is regrettable, therefore, that Sir Apirana Ngata's speech should have been open to misinterpretation. The Native Minister expressed his gratification at the tone of the debate in the House, bat he adcled that every man and every woman who was connected with the Native land development schemes felt today that the pakeha had something in his mind, and perhaps in his heart, about him or her. Mr. Semple: Absolute nonsense. Sir Apirana: The tone of the debate tonight has conveyed to us far more than what members have actually said. The Minister concluded his speech with the statement that it was obvious to him that no Maori would ever satisfy the pakeha and there was a feeling that there was a bias against the Maori. Neither in the debate nor in the events leading to the trouble so far as they are publicly known is there justification for this suggestion. The Government and Parliament are dealing with this subject as they most certainly would if the parties were all pakeha. There has been no hint of different standards for the two races, either a more exacting standard which would be unfair or a lower standard which would be a reflection on the Maori race. In these circumstances to raise a racial issue would be to create a smoke screen clouding the real issue. The Native Minister, we are sure, does not desire this. He desires a fair and impartial inquiry, nothing more or less. That is what Parliament has asked for. The Minister should, therefore, take an early opportunity of correcting the unfortunate inipres- , sion given liy some parts of his : speech—the impression that dif- : ferent treatment is looked for be- : cause Maoris may be involved.