NATIVE LANDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 288, 2 November 1934, Page 12

NATIVE LANDS

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION. SEEIOTJS VIEW TAKEN. The report issued by the Royal Commission which investigated the administation of Native Affairs, is a comprehensive document, and in addition to reviewing at length the evidence submitted to it and published in the Press from time to time, it makes certain recommendations to the Government. The Commission is of the opinion that the situation in respect of the State schemes for the developing of Native lands and the granting of farming assistance to Natives is serious enough to require close and immediate attention. The Commissioners say that the Minister of Native Affairs, influenced by enthusiasm. launched scheme upon scheme without any reasonable regard ns a Minister of the Crown to the need for properly accounting for State funds. They hold that Sir Apirana Ngata was' bound to restrain himself and to restrain the leaders of other tribes wlio assisted him, from adopting methods which meant a lack of control over State funds and stores. Tt is recommended that the Native Land Roald should he reorganised, and should meet not less than ten times a year; also that a competent general manager and supervisor be appointed. Regarding the Maori Purposes Fund, the Comissioners state that there can be do doubt that the board expended inouieys excessively In the interests of people resident on the East Coast and in Hawke’s Ray, and in the interests of a few members of leading families there and in Rotorua; also that unjust discrimination was exercised.

Evidence is submitted concerning payments to Maoris and Europeans travelling to meetings, celebrations, and a Maori football match in Wellington. It was also found that the Maori communal spirit was extended to the use of State motor vehicles for joy-riding. The Commission reports that there is much disquiet among returned soldiers regarding the East Coast Maori Soldiers’ Euml. Excepting £SOO, they have received nothing from a fund of about £42,000. The money has been spent on three sheep stations, and appears to have gone beyond recall.

The Commission, in its report, reviews native farming operations and the purchase of land, and notes slackness and inefficiency in respect of departmental methods and general administration.

THE LAND SCHEMES. The Commission regards as serious the situation in respect of the State schemes for the development of native land and of granting fanning assistance to natives. Jt states that in the promotion of such schemes the A mister of Native Affairs, Sir Apirana Ngata, “influenced by his method of approach, by his success in the field, and by his enthusiasm, launched scheme upon scheme without any reasonable regard, as a Minister of the Crown, to the need for properly accounting for State funds. He was in a hurry Jong before the unemployment situation became pressing in the late autmun of 1931. Our examination of the Audit office ; complaints will show our view of his responsibility in this matter. In his evidence, the Minister admitted that the requirements of Audit and Treasury Here being complied with to-day, and be said: ‘At the start, if we bad bad about one-third of the schemes, the whole tiling would have been quite all right.’ . . . , “The crux of the position lies here, and we may state our conclusion at once,” the report proceeds. “We agree that- a Native-land development, administration must be sympathetic, patient, and friendly, but we are clear that no such administration supported by the funds of the State is justified which fails to ensure as part of Hie process of development—(l) Proper accounting for Government moneys and stores; and (2) administration wliic bis subject to proper departmental check and which is of such a kind that it may be carried on by successive Governments.”

11 ECOMMEN D AT lONS. The Commission submits the following recommendations regarding the State development schemes oil behalf of the Natives: (1) No new development schemes •should be commenced unless they are regarded as necessary until the existing schemes have been established on a satisfactory basis. Eor example, vve should regard as necessary a scheme commenced to settle the surplus settlers at Te Kao where the existing development scheme has proved incapable of supporting them. If the development policy proves to be successful, the tendency should be to proceed gradually and not to press the schemes on Natives who, if they fully understand the schemes, do not wish to have them.

(II) The Native Land Settlement Board should be reorganised (by legislation where required) as follows: —■ (i) The Valuer-General should be excluded. (Note. —This gentleman or his department may always bo called on for advice where required). (ii) In lieu of those members, not exceeding two, who may be appointed by the Governor-General, there should be substituted such other members experienced in farming and business, not being less than three or more than four, as the Governor-General may appoint. (Note. —For the present, we think that one of these members should l>e a Native.) (iii) (a) The Native Land Settlement Board should meet not less than ten times in the year, (b) The board should have power to set up an executive committee of the board, including at least two members appointed by the Governor-General, and such executive committee should be enabled to exercise such powers as the board may delegate to it. (iv) The following alterations should be made in the general organisation under the board: —(a) A competent person should be appointed by the board at a suitable salary to act as a. general manager and supervisor (Note. —We think this most important.) (b) A head supervisor should bo appointed in each of the following Maori Land Board Districts :• Tokerau, Wai-kato-Maniopoto, Waiariki, Tairawliiti. (Note. —With regard to the Aotea, Ikaroa and South Island Maori Land Board Districts, we recommend that such head supervision should be provided a.s the Native Land Settlement Board thinks necessary.) (c) Sufficient supervisors, who are competent and otherwise suitable for the work, should be appointed in each district. (Note. — One of our members, Mr L. W. Nelson, has worked out a scheme of reorganisation for the Tokerau District, and we respectfully submit it in Appendix VI. We think that this scheme merits the serious consideration of the Native Land Settlement Board.)

legislation required. (Ill) The method of granting, under proper supervision, advances to units not within the scope of section 522 is sound and should lie validated by legislation. This will involve: (a) . The validation of the expenditure ot all moneys hitherto advanced upon the intended security of the land as from ” le date of such advances; and (b) the creation of statutory charges as intended, upon the separate lands in respect of which such moneys have been

expended. Provision shonkl also be made for valid advances of tliis kind to units in the future. The legislation should authorise advances to units on current account. All securities heretofore taken in respect of such advances should be validated by legislation.

(TV) Legislative provision should ho made for the maintenance of all charges upon the land, notwithstanding the determination or transfer of any lease or notwithstanding any change in the ownership or occupation ,'if the land.

(V) Provision should bo made by legislation for the removal of Gazette notices existing under section 522, where such removal is necessary, under safeguards of the kind we have indicated in another part, a.nd such other safeguards as may be necessary.

(VI) Tiio power of control by the Native Land Settlement Hoard over Native lands which have been or shall hereafter become subject to a charge for development or farming expenditure should he continued by legislation until all moneys so charged sha.ll have been repaid, whether such lands shall in the meantime have been rendered fit for settlement or not. (VII) Legislation should bo enacted to enable the Native Land Settlement Board to nominate an occupier lor the development or farming of Native land, whether such occupier is an owner in such land or not, and to permit of such nomination being at the discretion of the Native Laud Settlement Board, upon consideration ol a recommendation of the Native Land Court of the district, after an opportunity lias been given to all persons interested to be heard. Similar provisions should lie made in respect of persons for milking, farming or cropping on shares. (V 111) To meet the ease of any Native unit (and the case will, we think, bo common) who cannot by the process of consolidation, without unfair delay, obtain a title or tenure to the area which he occupies and which he is able and willing to farm under proper supervision, legislation should be enacted to the following effect: (a) For surveys to define the area of unit occupation. (Note. AVe think it jivill he necessary for the Government to consider the extent to which it will bear the cost of such a survey).

(b) For the Native Land Settlement Board to act as the agent of the owners in respect of Native land and as the agent of the Crown in respect of Crown land to grant leases in a manner similar to that provided by section 7 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Claims Adjustment Act, 1930, and upon such terms as to tenure as the Native Land Settlement Board shall determine, with power to the Native Land Settlement Board to retpure tor its consideration a recommendation in that behalf by the Native Land Court of the district after the court has given an opportunity to all persons interested to he heard.. (Note. No right of appeal from such a recommendation appears to he necessary, as the Court would only make a recommendation and the Native Land Settlement Board would have a discretion.) (c) For a system of provisional or special registration of such leases. IX. Legislative provision should be made to extend the provisions of subsection (4) of section V>22 to enable an allocation lo he made among units not only ol expenditure for development purposes on Government account to render land fit for settlement, but also of expenditure on Government account for farming purposes. AY hero advances have been made under “blanket” sechenies to a group of units, on units’ account, and it is desired to allocate those advances among them individually and charge the respective allocations upon separate lands, legislative provision for that purpose is also necessary. (X) The farm organisation under the Native Land Settlement Board should he such as to enable the proper treatment of the land of units which is alfccted or is likely to bo affected with “bush sickness” or “noxious weeds.” Provision should be made not only for the supply of “licks” and chemical preparations, but _ for “change” country for the use of a unit. Provision should also ho made for the use by a unit on ids small area of comparatively large herds or flocks at intervals in order to ensure proper and economical control of pasture and noxious weeds.

(XI) The financial organisation in relation to the budgets of the Native Land Settlement Board should be such as to enable farming operations to bo carried out with due regard to seasonal requirements. 'J'ho accounting organisation should also ensure that statements of account are supplied to all farming units at regular intervals. (XII) The necessary information and valuations should be obtained in duo course to enable the Native Land Settlement Board to consider and determine whether any, and, if so, what, “writing-down” or adjustments should be recommended by it in respect of any of the lands upon which units are to be settled.