NATIVE AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 April 1934, Page 7

NATIVE AFFAIRS

PRODUCTION OF BOOKS.

[PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, April 13

An indication that the Native Affairs Commission desires the production of all relevant records without undue delay, was given to-day by Mr Justice Smith, Chairman of the Commission.

The Controller and Auditor-General (Colonel Campbell) stated that he was unable to produce a statement in reference to the Maori Purposes Fund, as he could not get the books from the private secretary to the Minister, who was also secretary of the Board controlling the fund.

Mr G. P. Finlay, representing the Native Race, said that this information would be available on Tuesday. His Honor: What, is the reason for the delay? Mr Finlay said that the secretary had gone away with the Minister, on business. “These things are always very generously produced." said Air Finlay. His Honor: Here we are. with a great deal of work, and the books are not here! Mr Finlay: Tie will be back on Tuesday, and the hooks will be available.

His Honor: I want it to be clearly understood that the Commission expects that all books and records should be readily available for tlie purposes of the Commission. Evidence was given by Air Shepherd, chief clerk of the Native Affairs Department. He said that there was no definite plan for lands to be developed. Every scheme, as it came along, was treated as a special undertaking. The most useful contribution from the Minister was about June, 1930, when he submitted a lengthy memorandum covering all schemes existing at that time. It did not give a definite plan from beginning to end, but it did indicate the Minister's views in regard to these propositions. The Alinister put his conception of a plan of development in a Parliamentary report in 1931, and this was regarded as a statement of what he had in view.