NATIVE AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 51, 1 March 1934, Page 13

NATIVE AFFAIRS

COMMISSION SET UP

PERSONNEL OF FOUR

JUD&E TO PRESIDE

The personnel of the • Commission' which- is to investigate the administration of the Native Affair's Department ■ was: announced by the' Prime Minister. ■ j; (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes).. The .." Commission, which is to consist of four s\ members, will be presided over by Mr. ~~ Justice Smith and associated with him ■■ will be a lawyer, an accountant, and a ■--; farmer.' . ■ '-. • ■ ' . . - •. - -'. : "It will be recollected, "said Mr. ? J_ Forbes, "that the Controller and Audi- <;; tor-General's report on the Public ~-c Accounts for the year ended March 31,' •' S--1933, was referred to the Public Ac- * counts CommSttee of the House; of Be- ~-i presentatives. Dealing with, that portion of the report : which, contained ;' criticism arising out of certain matters affecting the administration of the Native Affairs Department, the Com- r mittee recommended that a commissioa ".'"' be appointed to investigate the ad- ''' ministration of Native Affairs, :espec- '; ially in regard to the development of Native land and the administration of -: the estates of the Maori people. In the -' subsequent discussion of the report■> I - informed Parliament that the. Gover^- ' — ment would adopt the recommendation ;'-': of the Committee, and that a Commis- '-: sion would be set up accordingly; I: "• am now in a position to announce the. - ": names of its members. ". [ '■' ■"'"" Mr. Forbes said the members of tho "■f'; Commission were:-— ' ■ ■';" His Honour Mr. Justice Smith.:-. ; s (chairman). ' . , ■ •, ;j.i Mr. J. Alexandra, ; barrister <and :;?o solicitor, Auckland. '-'■■■;•..' ■■ '-.; ■/ ■■■ :W . -.Mr. L. W. Nelson/ Whangarei.: ; ~': Mr. D. G. Johnston, accountant, •'-"„ Wellington. ■■': ■■ ■ .'..-.. '.''"l. The Commission. is enjoined to send its report to the Governor-General oa May 31,1934. ... ....'. OBJJER OF BEFEBBNCE. '. '5,' The Commission's order of referencs -^ was also announced by Mr. -Forbes. '-■' 'This requires the Commission to inquire* '*?■ into and Teport upon the administra- : -^ tion of the Departments of Government -"■ '<- concerned with tho administration of :J£ Native affairs in New Zealand, and in "y----particular-—■ ':'-■■_'•'- ■ ■'■■ ■ . '.-; --~= 1. The schemes now in operation ■" — under the Native Land Act, 1931, or~"----any other authority, for the develop-' " = ment of the lands of the Maori people :-'i? and for assisting them in farming, and' ■'-■>'■ all matters arising out of or in connee- :;'»: tion therewith, including— ->1 (a) The probability of their achieV- A' mg the results intended, or of their be--: '^ ing ; justified by the benefits they confer '; on the Maori people; and • '' (b) The sources from which they are'" financed, and the expenditure and con- ' T trol of and accounting for moneys :" therewith. .■•".-'-. : .•■' "r.S 2 * he funds which are availkble to ":: the_ Maori people, the purposes - for'"" which they may be applied or should' '«' be applicable, and whether they might :: be used more effectively. '„'/ ■'■', ;^ '" 3. Such other matters arising there- £- out as may come under your notice in ■-' the course of your inquiries arid which :" you consider should be investigated in ;/- connection therewith. .-.: And to make: such recbminendatioHS as it may think fit in relation to- the = above matters.' ; .. '..VI