NATIVE AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 111, 12 May 1934, Page 14

NATIVE AFFAIRS

METHODS CRITICISED

AUDIT INSPECTOR'S EVIDENCE

(By Telegraph—rress Association.)

ROTORUA, This Day.

This morning's sitting of the Native Affairs Commission was occupied with cross-examination of Joseph Austin Petrc, Government audit' inspector, who yesterday strongly criticised many aspects of the administration of the land development schemes in the Rotorua district.

The witness reiterated the opinion that it was a wrong procedure to allow the foreman who prepared the timesheets also to pay out the wages, or to allow -the clerk who drew the wages cheque to make payments to the men.

Mr. Finlay pointed out that the witness had already said that he thought the foremen. were trustworthy, but the chairman interjected that it was quite obvious that the system -exposed the men to temptation. Mr. Quilliam: I think that is proved by the Goldsmith ease, with which we are all familiar.

Mr. Justice Smith: The system cannot be justified. We have been told that a different system is used in paying forestry employees, and we can see no reason why that system should not be used in the Native Department. The witness agreed that recent increases in the staff were improving the system of issue of stores. He admitted that it might have been possible to obtain copies of missing order forms from Wellington, but this would have meant a long delay and inconvenience. He was entitled to expect that all the relevant documents would be. available in the Eotorua office.

Witness said he now agreed that.3l sheep which were first reported as being lost from a draft of 400 on the road between Rotorua and Maketu were in. reality a loss on a draft of 2582.

Mr. Mnlay said that the AuditorGeneral now admitted that this was the Maketu scheme's proportion of the total assessed loss on sheep from the East Coast. ■

With regard to allegations concerning the arrangement of contracts without authority, the witness admitted that in some cases Mr. Tai Mitchell had received direct instructions from the Nativo Minister on these matters. He also agreed that some of the allowances made to tho scheme employees at Maketn had been personally authorised by the Minister. He admitted that he had been suspicious of Mitchell, but said he had not consulted him because he was never in the office when he was wanted. He agreed that lack of staff placed the registrar of the Waiariki Land Board in a difficult position, and that unsuccessful efforts had been made by the registrar to have the staff increased.

Sir. Finlay contended that an intimation had been given in Parliament by the Native Minister that he intended to carry out a general tidy-up. The Commission adjourned until Monday morning.