NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMISSION

Evening Star, Issue 21724, 19 May 1934, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMISSION

MAORI DEBTS TO STOREKEEPERS PROPERTY PURCHASE AT DOUBLE VALUATION £P»» Ultimo Pkesb Association.] ROTORUA, May IS. The Native Commission tin’s morning was engaged in further consideration of complaints concerning the action of Hie Minister in setting aside land at Okataina for development. it was contended by a seetioj) of the Native owners that they had suffered wrong by this action, which was contrary to their wishes. The chairman finally indicated that the matter was one for the court, and not for the commission.

Mr R. A. Potter, representing six district storekeepers, raised the question of credit extended to Natives working on the schemes. All his clients were owed large sums of money, and had given credit on the assurance of responsible officers of the department that payment would be made. George French said that he was still owed £123, Ronald David Garriock £7l, Samuel Thomas Keen £l4l 10s 7d, Sarah Ann Lewis £172 7s 9d, Kada Mia £466 2s, and Mrs M. E. Monk £470. All six of these storekeepers gave evidence that they had given credit on the assurance of various employees of the department that the accounts would bo met. The accountant of the Waiariki Land Board (J. H. Watson), however, denied that any definite assurances were given; and Rei Vcrcoe, foreman at Rotoiti, said he had definitely told Mrs Monk that she must look for payment to the men themselves. His Honour said it was a serious thing when storekeepers were placed in this position, and suggested that the officers of the board and the department should confer with Mr Potter and endeavour to arrive at some solution which could be submitted to the com-, mission. Mr Potter appealed for a more satisfactory system that would safeguard the tradespeople. Air Qnilliaiu raised the question of fencing at Maketu carried out by Tai Mitchell, and referred to in the report of the Auditor-Genera!. Mitchell, in two reports to his head office, had stated that the sum of £696 had been expended on fencing properties outside the scheme at Maketu. Mr Quilljam said it was quite clear that at the time Mitchell made this report £476 of the amount mentioned had been expended on fencing lands actually gazetted. It was plain, therefore, that Mitchell’s statement was incorrect at the time and against himself. His Honour said the matter had not been cleared up yet. It still appeared that the sum of £219 had been expended on ungazetted hind. Mr Hampson (for Mitchell) affirmed Air Quilliam’s statement, and added that there had never at any time been any admission by Mitchell of corruption. The Auditor-General’s report was based upon the report made by Mitchell to his head office. Further evidence on this question was given by Frederick Rodgers, foreman at Alaketn, who said that Mitchell had given him explicit instructions to keep a careful individual tally of materials used in the erection of fencing round Alitchell’s property and to send this in to the office. This had been done. Further eviden-o was called concerning the stock dealings of D. U. Wilson, buyer, of Hamilton. Arthur Wakefield Ward, manager of the Hamilton branch of the New Zealand Loan and Alercantile Agency Company Ltd., said that so far as he knew Wilson had used the organisation of his firm for his buying. His firm collected the vendox - ’s commission on all deals put through for Wilson. He considered his company could have bought quite as well as Wilson. The position was that his company found the stock for Wilson to buy and that Wilson sold it to the Native Department. Dealing with the department’s purchase of lles’s property for £5,000, Charles William Griffiths said that prior to the sale to his department this property had been in his hands for sale at the price of £2,600. Ernest Alfred Meredith, Government Valuer at Rotorua, said the Government valuation of lles’s property at the time was £2,045. He had been consulted unofficially about the purchase by Wrigbt, the department’s supervisor at the time, and had advised against it. He had shown Wright the Government valuation. . Evidence alleging dissatisi action among the Alaoris of the district with the administration of the schemes was given bv Whare Alika, a Native unemployment investigating officer, who said tho work brought him closely into touch with all sections of the Native population. Witness made a number of general allegations, but when asked to give details could do so only in one or two instances. He mentioned two foremen who, he said, had told him they had signed blank pay sheets, but when these men were called they did not substantiate tills.