NATIVE AFFAIRS INQUIRY

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 147, 23 June 1934, Page 15

NATIVE AFFAIRS INQUIRY

MAORI PURPOSES FUND CONTROL

ALLEGATIONS OF BIAS REFUTED i

DIFFICULTIES IN HEAD OFFICE

Further commendation of the work of the Native Minister (Sir Apirana Ngata) in his efforts to improve the lot of the Native race, through Maori land development schemes was made before the Native Affairs Royal Commission yesterday afternoon, when evidence was given by,the;'Rev. Father J. J. Riordan, of Otaki, on behalf of the Catholic Missions to Maoris. In the course of his evidence Father Riordan denied- that the administration of the .Maori Purposes Fund had1 been partial, biased towards^an un- ' named religious body, and profligate. Evidence ivas also given by Chief Judge Jones of the Native Land Court, who was formerly Under-Secretary of the Department, . He-outlined Che difficulties -> the.officers.of the department.had encountered in carrying out their work under tremendous pressure, and stated that the head office had suffered through lack of staff.

Mr. Justice- Smith, presided, and associated with him were Messrs.- J. Alexander, D. G. Johnston, and W. L. Nelson.

Mr. G. P. Fiulay appeared . for the Native race, and Mr. B. H. Quilliain appeared under instructions from tho CJ6vemment to assist the- Commission.

"The charge has been made during the course of the investigations of this Commission that the administration of the Maori Purposes Fund lias, been partial, biased towards an unnamed re» ligioiia body, and jnroifligate," said the Rev.-Father J. f. Rioraan, of the Cath6lio Mission, OtakL "Speaking oil behalf of the Catholic Missions to the Maoris I emphatically declare that such a charge cannot be supported as far as we are cOncemedi It has been my special duty. to attend to the mattor of the' advancement of higher educatiott amongst the Maoris under our care.; -This has brought'me irito:toueh ■with the Maori Purposes !Pund Board during the last six years.; I have made an average of three applications annually lot special assistance for selected candidates and on evex'y occasion I have received generous and prompt attention. Moreover, speaking for the educational activities- associated with our work, at St. Patrick's Colleges, Wellington and Silver Stream, St. Bedo's, Ohristchurch, and St. Joseph's.: Maori j Gitls' Colloge,; ; ;^apier, 1- havev never known .any circumstance;'which 'would suggest ;religi6ua,;bias or 'geographical favouritism; Oniall occasions the board has required definite and > concrete, proofs of"the suitability of candidates, on the production of which splendid and timely aid; has been given. "IMPOSSIBLE OP PItOOF." .- ."Furthermore, it seems to mo"thati the charge.-is vimpossiblevi-= o£; >pvoof' because »& the yaefinitoiy national, ba£is'! upon ■which so tnaiiy denominational Maori schools are conducted. My experience of twelve years has shown me that a .broadminded; and; considerate controlling 'body 'makes no; discrimination, in.jhei.'inatteir bi^religious belief, in the schools condue'te'dby the Church' >f Englajid^^d.^: oui: own sch^oig, As in:' 'e^ample H;oi^ivßali:!i H:kayj-lifr):>3&& ih4ru,sjs non-Catholic have been -;dueateft-at St. Joseph's College, Hapfp.r,7 mririg the'past A%.-years. Assistance ;iven- t0... non-Catholic ipupils attending :'&tholio..s6ho.o)B.;.caniib't'*'^Caddttced as proof of denominational bias. Np.inOfe thanfassistance given.to Catholio.pupils at non-Catholic institutions can be made :t proof for the charge. Tins aspect" Of Maori education so complicates statistical figures that it makes tho matter of denominational bias' an impossible c harge to prove. - * "In further proof of tlio ba«elcssjic«s of the charge, as fnr us our missions>arc concerned, I shall but mention the assistance given to St. Peter's CatoehistjCo))ege, Northcote, Auckland, and the aid'promised to"St. Joseph's College, .Napier, in tho matter of building. Tho-former school-received a grant of £2060 towards tho cost of construction awtf,after the Sawke's Bay earthquake tlio Sisters of Our Lady of tlie Missions were given the assurance that sis soon as the Government permitted tho restoration of the yearly grant for ircoJistruction their claims would -be granted. "Finally, I desire to point out that it was an accident of history that led to Jhe establishment of so many secondary schools by the Church of England in New Zealand with the result that.they easily outnumber tho other denominations concerned with Maori education in the matter of secondary s&hooJ«. This preponderance may be the reason for the' apparent special treatment meted out to this Church. NECESSITY OF WOKK. "Speaking as one whoso life work is tho care of the Native race, and as one charged with the responsibility for their welfare in-Hawke's Bay, Wairaiapa, Horowhenua, Manawatu, Ttangitifcti, Wellington, and the South island, I wish to give my sincerest com-mendation-to the- work of the Native Minister and his-Department known as 'Maori Development Schemes.' For sis years I was stationed on the Wanganui Hirer, residing at Jerusalem, and had ample opportunity to see and judge the appalling condition'of tho'Natives over a, large area. The land had become the prey of blackberry and gorse, the magnificent Morikan Farm, of some 10,000 acres was loaded with a mortgage -of sonio £56,000, and a hopeless inactivity—due to the lack of prospect and the ravages oJ' the impossible rjromises of a famous Maori prophet—had seized tho people. Amusements and games were- tlio only occupation of the people. Now, thanks to tho interest and enthusiasm wh;ch tho Itanana scheme hns evoked, the Natives are cultivating their land, strong in health, and of valuo as citiKonn. No longer are tennis and 'football tho 'bo all and end all' of their existonce. Moreover, thoso outside tho scheme have been aronsed to a healthy rivalry, so that a general improvement is noted everywhere. My experience of this magnificent change,,and n>y observations in the Kotorua district as well as in Southland, lead mo. to. the con* elusion that the schemes are an absolute necessity to the Maori race and a splendid national asset. •- DIFFICULTIES. "To judge the success of the work of the Native Minister, who inspired .ill these activities and whoso tireless eaergy has been the source- of their .success, bile must take into consideration, the obstacles Which impeded and prevented his efforts in the beglh' nihg. . . ■:■'• ..■■■'•.- "Tribal difficulties were innumerable ariMijg froni the fact that tie patriarchal system has not yet completely; disappeared Aftd from historical 'antipathies, which are nursed as carefully today as fifty years ago. The 'promoters had the colossal work of overcoming tlift.pri.rlc of' r tribal -: leaders, whose .ability did -not1 n'ways cp.i«r-Uie with the importance', of. their ancient lineage.-pntlTopiiicß them with .youngor. more;experienced.:and more enthusiastic and energetic. m«fn not so favourably placed: as-far; as genealofeieal escei*aw<fc3fealfera«««ned!|.. Jpdfijijdt-asrr'wAs

this aspect, when members of the same tribe wero coacorned, the difficulty increased a thousandfold wheii an outsider was the supplanter. This obstacle became almost insuperable, if tho nevooincr was not attachod by marriage or historical amity to tho tribe Uo was to lead. That the Nativo Minister has succeeded in overcoming this -tr-otnendOus difficulty is a tribute to his ability, tact, and Joblikc patience. I am certain that no European Minister could have achieved this result. HISTOEICAL DIFFICULTIES. "Every worker amongst the Maoris and everyone interested in their welfare knows tho colossal burden the memory of ancient inter-tribal warfare and historical enmities places on one's shoulders, when one endeavours to secure unity for common good. This is as difficult of comprehension by the casual observer of Maori life-as theEinstein theory of relativity is to \he ordinary schoolboy.. Amongst civilised peoples this suspicion has bred hatred and. warfare; It is to-be. remonibered that only one hundred years have elapsed-since European; civilisation came to these shores and, moreover; the 'baneful effect of the vices and crimes of many early inhabitants of European origin has not assisted the civilising* influence of our system 61 life.: Again, it is often .forgotten that the, Maoris are not; a united people. iri; the face of this difficulty,'th'er-Native Minister,hasyachieved wonders. J; . "It is'unnecessary for me 3 to:';dwell on'the diversified nature of titles of Maori land occupancy. The multiplicity, of. ownersj, .the 'Complicated' condition of -tenure, the personal spites and individual idiosyncrasies combine to render this phase of the question rone which,would, break .the heart of the most valiant. Even this interminl ;able 'tanglo 'has \be'en sufficiently. \un-; iravellod to pei:mit,,,pi. considerable ;aer tivity. To my mind this borders on ■the miraculous. . ;■'-. '}■ i XACK QF.;>AINEP. .MEN. ~"..._.. - ."The provision of..trained nien >.to. tactfully :.and energetically carry out this-''.work, -which was in the nature *^^;W^,etiitteiit,.i;,en.ta,ilgd--.:a dependCneb oil the jtfcf gm'erit "and Tfieom'meW -datioris of-otliers, .because, no. Minister cotiTd:-be" expected to-havo-the -nocesstiry knowledge to adequately judge each applicant. That more mistakes have not been made, is a matter for congratulation. ■- ; • > ' "As;a."great deal of supervision and reliance , had to be placed on the shouldors of 'Europeans, experienced in /modern farming eiiterprisc, in local .conditions and tribal peculiarity, it ine.cessiii'ily follows that lack of insight into Maori mentality and a lack of sympathetic understanding • would foredoom-those men to failure. I.have had abundant proof in my own"'case when a young Maori missionary i»ncl in several "different examples amongst European officials>and farmers charged with tho -Maori welfaro, of failure more or loss complete becauso of this unfortunate 'lack of sympathetic lind«» standing, "Thiso1 difficulties; added to olhcfi of a local or special character, have made the patli^ of the Native Minister and.his officers bristlo witli'dangors^ln concluding these' observations'l'finally refoivto- tho attractions 'of-'tho -.Unqmploymgnt Board's ..'schemes ,to " Maori nature and temperament; A tremendous pull has._.bceu exercised by this attractive work. A few days' work, and several days' idleness, tho prospect of assistance from relief committees and .social welfare bodies, with ready cash 'each week, constitute an allurement of 'intense attractiveness to the Maori. Tho consequent demoralisation is too well known to be insisted on here. ' Added ,to these aforementioned obstacles the Nativo Minister had to win over his peoplo from this attraction.' FEATURES OF SCHEME WORK. ,"I wish to briefly state some very commendablo' features of the Maori development;" schemes: These -operations havo taken 'off the Unemployment Funds many hundreds of1 Natives, who vould have- been a considerable tax on the resources of -the - Unemployment lts6ard. 'Moreovor, the payment in kind, rather than cash,'has supplied the Natives with the necessities of life, removed the San'gor of unskilful handJing of, money, eliminated unscrupulous hawkers and-dealers, and-kopt the Natives at work. "Tho nature of the schemes, depending as thoy do on tho co-operation of whole tribes, has begotten on o.sprit do corps and aroused racial pride Or" the commendable1 kind. :. it hagj moreovor, knitted factions into ;> compact whole, awakened confidence and inspired hope. "No matter how superficial one's knowledge of the Native people may be, it is easily observable that tho improved conditions, of life, tho active and healthy circumstances of their Occupation, and renewed hope have combined to rostore vigour and health. To adequately estimate tho value of tho. schemes from a health point of View onO has only to compare the number of deaths amongst the peoples where no schemes operate with thoso of peoples blessed with this healthy occupation. .In our own immediate territory tho deaths in one year averaged one fi week, many dying from malnutiition—.l cupUtimis>m for semi* starvation. NATIONAL WEALTH. "It is self-evident {hat the brenklngtn di new, and the cultivation of old, farm lands,' Will contribute considerably to the national wealth and welfare. ' "In conclusion, lestit might appear that motivde of self-interest or gratitude'inspired these cbmmonts, I must add that I have not always been granted every request I have made to the Maori Purposes I'und Board or to the Native Minister. Last yenr, tho prevailing imponmiiosily prevented my (recci\ing my full qfiota. ol seho'lurship*, riiiil tins year, so far, no assist-j ancq whatever is forthcoming. More1-1 ,over, my'plans for scheme ' work for 'Maoris in the Otaki district were postponed by the Minister because of their iaeompl-etenees, «tad iimma'teritj^tine- ix\

my inexperience in these phases of business.

"Consequently, I urge -with all my power tile continuation and extension Of- the; work for the. various reasons already adduced and for the complete development of the Maori intellectually, socially, morally, and nationally. "finally, I pay my tribute of respect and regard to the' Native Minister, his officers, and his Department." ■; -Evidence was given, by Judge E. N. Jones, Chief JMgo: of the" Native Land Court,, and formerly Under Secretary Of the Native Department.. : "So far as- I L canßemember," he said, "developmeht, began at, a time when, the depression ;wa& commencing to be felt. ; Instructions. had, been issued to all".'Departments that Government .expenditure'' should .ha curtailed, while there' i|yas, a tacit understanding thfttno;fr§'sh'appointment to tho Public SdrVice/sliourd.bo asked for if it could too-aybided;. In addition there was the';des'ire:\not;to kill tho development at;ita'iiiiception by. burdening it with; avoidable overhead expenses. ....'. ,>!.^y ;y..,:,. ',•'■'''.'. ■ '.-. STAFF REOKGANiSEp. "The staff, Vat Ciiy. cojnmandj' Was reorganised to;'nifee'tj.ihe \fni\yt conditions and onable;as.manjrias;possible to be dotailel. for^devetop^ent'w.ork. Not havingf the";saperav;be£bro. me, I am u»ablo«t6;'des'criby:the,. nature of tho Changes made'from: time'to time, 'but the particulars.-of theso- will be supplied by another,-. officer. The Hon. Native- Minister^ wio was well versed in farming, took a keen interest in development from its inception, and gave it his personal attention and directed the policy. I have had no experience of farming, and as I was already fully occupied with my ordinary duties it was eventually arranged that the chief clerk of the department Should attend to tho development side. The directions to him, were always issued through myself, and in the same way all communications to tho staff were forwarded through mo except in some emergency or when I was absent da my circuit duties. Prom time to time the chief clerk conferred with me with regard to any difficulties that mfght arise, and I gave the best advico I M>uld. "In saying matters were left to 'the chief clerk I do not desire in any way to shirk responsibility for any errors that may have occurred. I realise that notwithstanding any delegation of duties I am responsible for the action or want of action of those iindor me, and for anything that has miscarried, but I do wish to say in fairness to the officers of the department then under my 'control 'that :1 they did their very best under difficult circumstances, and were. faithful and loyal to their duty as public servants. ' " /AUDIT INQUIRIES. ''So far as any question with the Audit Department is concerned I was not involved in any of the discussions that took place with that Department bxcept so far as I endeavoured to have rate's ; and wharfages paid out of development funds as a fair - charge upon /the Maori Land Owners.1 ; I only remember one occasion when a matter was referred tome personally by the Audit Dejpartment. It was in connection' with some supporting document that was required. I made inquiries, and I was shortly after ablo to reply that the document on its way. There may, of course, have been instances where I have' advised a certain course of. action :JvMch .has escaped my Recollection..'' I .remember the Kotorua office complaining' of certain audit iuquiries, and I immediately advised that it was their, duty to give to Audit the fullest information, at their disposal. Nor did I come iir contact "with the Stores Control Board, although it may be that 1 advised upon some question that has arisen between that board and: Mr. Quilliain: In quite a number' of ",£s||a£ces you"jh"tta'3'ffiyo":files- relating to a purchasfe of property ebmmeutihg after the Minister haddecided that a piece of property should be bought. There is nothing dealing with reports or valuations on the flic. The inference seems to-be that- the matter was negotiated or arranged, by the Minister. Witness.:'Yos, '';'■ ' ' . Do you-fed .that it was a satisfactory systeijiMthat "that; should bo followed?—rj,.iveyerjiad it brought' to my attention "'thd,t,vwayF ' ' i Mr. QuUHtm referred to the fact that tho witness bad written to tho Minister recommending the purchaso of :i certain property. "You said that Mr. Scott, -the farm supervisor, had -inspected it. There is no report of Mr. Scott's on the file." Witness: That letter would bo written upon information supplied to me. Mr. Quilliam: There is no letter to suggest;that. Mr. Scott, at Rotorua, said he' had nothing to do with tho purchase. "Witness-: < I must have been misled, then.. How could'you havo been misled* The .witnoss said that ' the letter would have boen placed in f rout of him to sign, and he would go through it. Mr. Quilliam: What does that moan? There i» no report ovon today on the file. Witnesb: There must have been a report somewhere. What if I told you that hi many cases in connection with the purchase of land the file discloses no report or valuation at all?—I would be very surprised to •hear that. Can you osplain it?—l caunot explain it. It would be a very bad system, wouldn't it?— Yes, if that was the case. A "MECHANICAL" PART? Tt rather suggests that your part was purely mechanical, and a matter 'of routine? lILs Honour: Nominal. Witness: It was more than nominal, as I understood it to bo. Mr. Quilliam: Can you, explain the , absflfl.ee of any report or valuation1?— (Unless it's got on to anothor file. . It evidently was not tho practice of the Department to "obtain the Government valuation of a property" Probably I should say that. Tho Controller and Audilor-Gcncral complained a long time ago that tho Government Valuation Department was not used by your Department? Ye:-. I remember ..that. ' That was in connection with a purchaf.o that had been made which the Auditor-General said was, at an excessive" price. Did you take any action .as a result of that complaint?— Not that T now remember. Mr. Quilliam said he wanted to know ( why a recommendation by the Con;troller and Auditor-General had not been complied with. , 'Witness: I cannot say, , Tho witnoss added that no doubt something Was done, but ho could not isay what Was done. Mr. Alexander (a member of the Commission) j Who would know what was done? Witness: The director of development. l Mr. Quillium: You cannot assist tho .Commishiou by explaining how you would get tho information before you recommended a purchase boyond sayinc that you assumed you were told it by somebody, and it was on the file THe witness was 'examined in" connection with a timber property valued at £330 in 101-t and purchased for £2300 in • 1931. His Honour remarked that-surely £2500 should not linvo been paid for a £0:50 pi-opfity. "How do you oxplain n pui-rIMFe like that,'" lie asked Witnrs*: J have no O\]ilanntioii; llijil jhrtil been done while 1 m,', s a«;iy, ■~,. I parently. - His Honour suggested that tho witness might, like to look into the matter. • tAng^^aier-sfeigfr-tife-' Krtae6s.-co.iiK

j The Commission adjourned till Monday; ■,"". •;

plained that tlio pffico files had beop made up in. a peculiar manner, and that it was difficult for him to find reports and letters on certain files. Ho had complained in the office at the manner in which the files were compiled. STAFFING. "Wo did not have enough staff: to do tho work, and thai created a serious problem," he continued. Mr. Quilliam: Were you so short as to impair the efficiency of the office?— l^es. ■ ..■..' And that was,a serious matter? —It was the whole time. . It must have given you considerable concern; what did you do? —Wo applied to the Commissioner. ■ To tho Public, Service Commissioner? •—I understand so. ■ Mr. Quillinin asked whether, as far as Kotorua was concerned, recommendations were held up by the Minister, but tho witness replied that he did not remember. . ■ , Can I take it that it" was a matter in which you had no part?—l think I was consulted. . . The.witness added that he.could not remember what action ho,took, but "it was a continual bugbear arid a worry." Mr. Quilliam: There has been nothing shown,which brought that condition of affairs specifically under . the notico of the Public Service Commissioner; . " . ; ■ Witness: There ought to have been; I understand there wis. Mr. Alexander: From Whom? Witness: Mr. Shepherd was instructed to bring tho matter before the Public Service Commissioner. ACCEPTING THi} BLAME. Mr. Quiiliain: He could not tto it except through, you, could he?-^—N6; In your opinion upon whoiu'dpes the blame.lie for the shortage of staff in the office?^pn myself,:! suppose. Mr. Quilliam (laughingly): That was hardly the answer I espeeted. Why do you blame yourself? '.. . Witness: Because I could not get anything aone owing to the times. ~ I cannot blame the Public Service Commissioner more than anybody else. We Were all.in. the same difficulty. When complaints were made by the Treasury and Audit, what action did you take?—l' discussed it with' Mr. Shepherd and the Minister, and pointed i out that it was not entirely proper. I Mr. Pinlay: I take it that you did I not sign letters without knowing what I was in them?—l signed every letter carefully.. ■ You would check the information in tho letter from tho file?— Under ordinary circumstances that was my regular practice. , . . What was the state of tho staff?-— Tho office staff was back almost every night in tho week. Except on Saturdays and Sundays I worked till 11 O'clock. One boy had a nervous breakdown. The work was being done under tremendous pressure. The ordinary staff knocked off about 9 or 10 o'clock

: Mr. Alexander: Did the ordinary staff get overtime? ■ ' '

Witness: Unfortunately, no; we tried to. They eventually, got tea money. One boy was working on Sunday. What was the activity of the Minister?—He -was also working long*hours. >■ The: witness added, that every member of the staff did his best.