NATIVE LAND SCHEMES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 120, 20 April 1934, Page 4

NATIVE LAND SCHEMES.

EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMISSION AUCKLAND PROVINCE OPERATIONS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 19. Evidence regarding the initiation of native land development schemes in the Auckland province, with particular reference to the Waiuku district, was heard before the Royal Commission appointed to investigate the administration of native affairs, when it began its Auckland sittings.

Air C. E. AlacCormick, of the Native Land Board for the Waikato and Maniapoto districts, said the whole of the judicial work developed on him. Discussing the financial position' for tho AVaikato-Alaninpoto Board, Mr AlacCormick 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 under statutory regulation. Formerly they were deposited with the Public Trustee, and we used to get money on demand, or, at worst, at two months’ notice. Now we cannot got it.”

Questions were., directed more particularly to the development of two schemes on the Waipipi and Kauhau blocks in the AVaiuku district. Discussing the taking over of tho Waipipi farm by the Native Department for £6053, Air AlacCormick said that half the amount due to the hoard for developing the scheme had been repaid. The chairman: Are you putting in a debit to the Alinistcr for the other half?—l don’t know that we have adopted that course. The Alinistcr warned me he could not find £6OOO all at once. The chairman : AA'liat about the human aspect. Have the natives' been helped ? Witness: They have been working regularly for wages and are thus better off. although the wages arc low. The driving force has been Princess Te Puea Herangi. 1 think as the younger natives come on they will continue farming. I hope so at any rate. 1 don’t know that I can forecast the future with any greater certainty than that. Witness said the primary object of the development schemes, as he understood it from conversations with the Native Alinister, was to give the Alnoris work, and to bring into production native lands that would not otherwise be developed. He was not aware

that the Land Board had been consulted regarding the schemes. Air Quilliam said his object was not merely to show that the Native Alinister was personally responsible for initiating and carrying on the schemes, hut to show in addition that while there was a delegation of certain authority to the board that seemed to be something in tho nature of. a 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 Alinister, after which something was done? We don’t expect State Departments to act in that way.

* AYitness said that was not exactly tho position. So apart from the ordinary routine administration the board took no part in these schemes?—That is so, apart from field officers. Who appointed them?—The department. I know the Alinister chose one of them. “It is a very curious system of land development. There is no doubt about it,” remarked Air Justice Smith, after further questions had been answered. “I was rather opposed to these development schemes originally, or at least I was doubtful about them,” said Air AlacCormick, in reply to questioning by Air Finlay. “However, I gradually became converted. I used to wonder how some of the natives would get through tho winter. I came to the conclusion that even if there was monetary loss on some of the schemes, or on the schemes as a whole, they would he of benefit to the Alaoris particularly and to the Dominion generally.” The hearing was adjourned. EVIDENCE HEARD TO-DAY. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 20. The Native Affairs Department Inquiry Commission to-day — resumed its examination of Edward P. Earl, registrar of the Tolcerau and Waikato-Alaniapoto Land Baords. He said he had only a superficial knowledge of the details of the method under which stores were bought and distributed by the board, which was very much in the hands of the field officers. There were 727 development units and he thought the accountant or stores clerk could give information as to the stores control methods.

Cyril George Collins, representing the Controller and Auditor-General, produced the minute book of tho Maori Purposes Fynd and rend various minutes. He said there was usually only a quorum present.

At one meeting there were present the Native Alinister, the Alaort Af.P. for the South Island and Dr Buck, who was then in New Zealand on a holiday. That meeting passed a resolution authorising expenditure on a Alaori football team and a visit to Rarotonga. Witness would not express an opinion as to the eating up of £9OOO capital and £3OOO for education purposes.