NATIVE AFFAIRS INQUIRY

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 51, 1 March 1934, Page 10

NATIVE AFFAIRS INQUIRY

The Public Accounts Committee <3i the House of Representatives presented its lepoit lecommending the appointment, of a Commission on Native Affairs on' December 14. j-Two and a half months, even allowing for the holiday break, is a long time to take for the selection of commissioners and drafting an order of, reference. Nevertheless, now tkait the Government has done its pajrt it is ! ' ''"

gratifying that it has done it well. The Commission is one in which the public, both Maori and pakeha, may have complete confidence. Mr. Justice Smith, apart from his judicial experience, has valuable knowledge of Native land and the Native mind. He will have expert assistance on the accountancy side from a highlyqualified accountant and. on the land development side from a farmer of long experience. Every aspect of the business should, therefore, be thoroughly surveyed. It is not to be assumed that this is a trial of anybody or any system. The AuditorGeneral, in the course of his duties, discovered and reported irregularities, and he will, we presume, have full opportunity to place all the facts before the Commission. But the Commission is intended to go further than this line of inquiry and to make an investigation and submit recommendations which will remove any cause of disquiet concerning Native land development and permit it to proceed systematically and with the assurance that neither effort nor money is misdirected. Not to-break down, but to strengthen and build up Native settlement is the aim.