NATIVE AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 June 1934, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS

MINISTER’S STOCK PURCHASES. [PEB PBEBS ASSOCIATION’.] WELLINGTON, June 27. At the Native Affairs Commission, G. I’. Shepherd, Chief Clerk of the Native Department, continued his evidence regarding purchases made i> connection with development schemes. In the course of buying, said witness, tenders were not called for. The question of buying by tender never arose. Witness expressed the opinion that, under the Treaty of Waitangi, land could not be forcibly taken from the Natives for development. There had to be substantial agreement between the Natives and the Department. Witness was questioned regarding stock purchases from Wilson. Mr Johnston: Did you take any steps to point out to the Minister that this was unconstitutional? Witness: No. 1 discussed it with the Minister on one occasion, and said he had better not buy off Wilson. The Minister stated he got good stock from Wilson.

Mr Johnston: Who fixed the prices? Witness: The Minister carried out the negotiations himself with Wilson. Mr Johnston: The purchases with Wilson were carried out by the Minister apart altogether from the office? Witness: Yes. Mr Johnston: Did you point out that the usual method of buying stock was through the Department of Agriculture t Witness: Yes. That was frequently discussed but we had an exemption for live stock, and the exemption provided that we should combine with the Department, of Agriculture as far as possible, and that was done quite frequently.