MAORI PURPOSES FUND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 288, 2 November 1934, Page 16

MAORI PURPOSES FUND.

DRASTIC ALTERATION URGED. CRITICISM OF MINISTER. “There can be no doubt that the funds of the board controlling the Maori Purposes Fund have been expended excessively in the interests of people resident on the East Coast and in Hawke’s Bay, and in the interests of a few members of leading families there and in Rotorua,” reports the Native Affairs Commission. “We think that unjust discrimination has been exercised under the general clause in expending moneys held for the benefit of the Maoris of all districts in New Zealand.”

The Commission points out that although the board commenced on April 1, 1925, with a capital sum of £9OOO, and has received increments of £52,195, the amount of the fund at March 31 last was only £59,553. “This has involved a heavy trenching upon capital,” it says, “and if the process continues at the rate maintained during the last few years the fund will disappear in comparatively few years.” The Commissioners think it plain that the board must be drastically altered, a comprehensive and responsible survey must be taken of the field of operations, and a proper policy determined. It makes certain recommendations in this direction. It is observed that there is much disgust among Maori returned soldiers regarding the East Coast Maori soldiers’ fund. Except for not more than £SOO they have had nothing from a fund of about £42,000 collected by the sacrifices of the Maori people for their returned soldiers. The money was spent in connection with three sheep-stations —Hoata, Hoia and Herelieretau. “It appears to be gone beyond recall,” add the Commissioners. Regarding complaints that unfair partiality had been shown to the family of the Native Minister, it having been complained that from Anvil 1, 1929, to January 16, 1934, travelling expenses and college fees of the Ngata family amounting to £697 3s 9d were paid out of the Maori Purposes Fund, tlie Commissioners report that they received a written explanation from Sir Apirana Ngata. The Minister explained that the .amount was largely accounted for by the fees of Mr Tipene (Stephen) R. Ngata, who received a Government free place scholarship an 1927, and was thereby entitled to grants of £lO each in i 927 and 1928. He received a continuation scholarship in 1929. In 1930, he, with Laddie Ivoliere proceeded to Lincoln Agricultural College. In 1932 Mr Tipene Ngata passed through Canterbury Agricultural College and proceeded to Massey Agricultural College. Transport, fees, etc., were paid while he was enrolled there, under the authority of a resolution of the Control Board at a meeting attended by Sir Apirana Ngata, Chief Judge Jones and Mr Tuiti Makitanara, M.P° Mr Tipene R. Ngata has obtained bis diploma in dairy-farming and is finishing his training in dairy manufacture at°Massey Agricultural College this The Minister further explained that the sum of £697 3s 9d also included ex-

pc uses on behalf of Miss Hana Ngata, plena re Ngata and Hori Ngata, the first two being children of Sir Apmma, while Hori is a grandson. The following explanation was made in the statement submitted to the Commission: “Payment of the fares, etc., for the three above-named children in connection with the visit of Maori representative chiefs and visitors to Rarotonga, to extend the hand of friendship to their Rarotongan cousins and to invito their chiefs to visit Zealand and become acquainted with the Maoris here, was authorised by a resolution passed by the board on March 24, 1930. The Native Minister’s statement concluded with the following words: “It is no fault of the father of these children that, owing to their pioficiency m education,' they commanded scholarships awardable either by the Education Department or the board to all who can pass the tests laid down, and that they should be penalised, because their father happens to be chairman of the board for the time.” Commenting on Sir Apirana’s explanation, the Commissioners say:— “If, however, the resolutions of March 24, 1930, November 19, 1930, and December 9, 1931, under which a member or members of the Ngata family took substantial benefits, were passed at meetings which were otherwise valid, it is unfortunate, and, we think, reprehensible, that Sir Apirana Ngata was one of the three members present at these meetings and necessary to form a quorum.” It is clear that special assistance became available to agricultural students, including the son of the Native Minister, at Te Auto College from August, 1929, onward, and that such assistance was not offered or granted to. other schools. It is clear also that special assistance, not offered or granted elsewhere, has been granted to a few East Coast and Rotorua families. We think that the facts we have stated require explanation, and that, if the partiality shown is to be justified, some method of fair selection of the objects for additional assistance from among the Maori people of the Dominion should be shown. We have seen no evidence of it. Failing that, we have no hesitation in saying that the complaints of Mr Clark and Mr Koliere have been established, and that, again, partiality and injustice have been shown to the Maori people, hut particularly, the Maori youth, of the Dominion in the administration of the fund. In any event, it is plain that Sir Apirana Ngata has misused his position as a member of the board by making a quorum to pass resolutions under which his children took substantial benefits and by which he was relieved of financial responsibility.”