NATIVE AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 April 1934, Page 4

NATIVE AFFAIRS

LAND DEVELOUPMENT SCHEMES [PER PBESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, April 19. Evidence regarding the initiation of the native land development scheme in Auckland province, with particular reference to the Wainku, district, was heard before the Royal Commission appointed to investigate the administratio nof native affairs, when it began. its Auckland sittings. Members of the Commission are Justice Smith (Chairman), J. Alexander (Auckland), L. W. Nelson ,Whangarei) and D. G. Johnston (Wellington). Mr. R. I-I.' Quilliam (New Plymouth) instructed by the Government, is appearing to assist the Commissioner and G. P. Finlay (Auckland), is representing the Native race. C. E. MacCormick, Native Land Board Commissioner for the Waikato-Mania-poto district, said the whole of the judicial work devolved on him. Discussing the financial position of the Waikato-Mauiapoto Board, he said the assets were not liquid. “The Native Trustee has exhausted’ his funds, and incidentally a good deal of ours.’’ He added: Our surplus funds are deposited with the Native Trustee ipider statutory regulation. Formerly they were deposited with the Public Trustee, and we used to get money on i demand, or at worst at two months’

notice. Now we cannot get it. Questions were directed more particularly to the development of two schemes on Waipipi and Kauhau 1 blocks in the Waiuku district. Discussing the taking over of a Waipipi farm by the Native Department, for £6023, Mr. Cornish said that half the amount due to the Board for developing scheme had been repaid. The Chairman: Are you putting in a debit to the Minister for the other half? Witness: I don’t know that we have adopted that course. The Minister warned me he could not find £6OOO all at once. The Chairman: What about the human aspect? Have the natives been helped? Witness: They have been working regularly for wages and are thus better off, although wages are low. The driving force has been Tepuea Herangi I think a sthe younger natives come on they will continue farming. I hope so at any rate. I do not know that 1 can forecast the future with any greater certainty than that. Witness said tho primary object of the development schemes as he undeistood it, from conversation with the Native Minister, was to give the Maoris work, and to bring into production native lands that would not otherwise be developed. He was not aware that the Land Board bad been . consulted regarding the schemes. Mr. Quilliam said his object was not merely to show that the Native Minister was personally responsible

for initiating and carrying .on the schemes, but to show in addition tnat ' while there was delegation of certain ' authority to the Board, that seemed 1 to be something in the nature- of ’ shadow. He wanted to find out from the President of the Board what part he and the Board played. The Chairman: What routine was laid down if any? Did you have a casual chat with the Minister, after which something was done. we don’t expect State Departments to act in that way. .. Witness said that was not exact y the position. .. , So apart from ordinary routine administration, the Board took no part in these schemes? —That is so, apart from the field officers. Who appointed them?—The Department. I know the Minister, chose one of them. It is a very curious system 01 land development. There is no doubt about it, remarked Justice smith after further questions had been answered. “1 was rather opposed to these de-, vclopment schemes originally, or at least I was doubtful about them,” said MacCorniick, in reply to questioning by Mr. Finlay. “However, I gradually became converted. I used to wonder how some of the Natives would get through the winter. I camo to the conclusion that even if there was monetary loss on someeof , the schemes or on the schemes as a whole, they would be of benefit to tho Maoris particularly, and to the Dominion generally. * The hearing was adjourned.