NATIVE LANDS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 147, 19 December 1933, Page 12

NATIVE LANDS

CHANGES IN CONTROL

POWERS FOR THE BOARD

AX AMENDING' BILL

As the outcome of the comments made by the Controller and Auditor-General in reference to tho administration of the Native Department, the Native Purposes Bill, introduced into tho House of Representatives last evening, and referred to the Native Affairs Committee, deprives the Minister of Native Affairs of many of his •powers of control, and places them in the hands of the Minister of Finance and the Maori Land Development Board. Funds for the administration of Maori I,and Boards are to be repaid to the' Consolidated Fund on requisition made under the authority of the Minister of Finance instead of the Native Minister. The spending authority of these boards is also subject to the approval of the Minister of Finance instead of the Native Minister, and the transfer of funds from one board to another can only in future be made under authority •from tho Minister of Finance. , The whole of the Native Minister's control over tho guarantee fund for the protection of Native lands is transferred to the Minister of Finance. It will also be necessary in future for the Minister of l|linance, instead of the Native Minister, to give authority for boards to engage in" industrial undertakings on behalf of the Natives. In future the Native Land Settlement Board is to control the following matters in place of the Native Minister: advances upon mortgage by Maori Land Boards; all expenditure by Maori Land Boards in the direction of making advances to Natives; the guaranteeing of accounts of Native dairy farmers; the purchase of and farming of lands; the subdivision of land for settlement; the p.royisiQn.Qf funds, fpr compensation for improvements; the apportionment of liability of advances made for development. The whole of the powers previously held by the Native Minister in reference to the development of Nativeowned land are placed in the hands of the Native Land Settlement Board. Tho power to compound Native rates is also placed in the hands of the Native Land Settlement Board in placo of the Native Minister. The appointment of managers of farms-held by Maori land boards is to be made by the Public Service Commissioner instead of the Native Minister. In- the Native Trustee Act, 1930, a number •of ■ powers are cxercisable by the Native Trusteo with tho approval of the Native Minister, but an amending clause in the Bill substitutes the Native Land- Settlement Board for the Minister. The board- thus exercises final authority over borrowing, tho appointment of managers of farms, ami ail matters connected with the administration, improvement, and settlement of such' lands. ' Any contract made by the Native Land Settlement Board is to be signed by two of its members, and no verbal contract- is to be made involving payment by the board of a sum exceeding £20.