NATIVE AFFAIRS INQUIRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 24 April 1934, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS INQUIRY

DEVELOPMENT SCHEME

REVIVAL OF INTEREST

(By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, 23rd April. “There are no two ways about it; it will be a success,” said Mr Pei Te Hurunui Jones, a field supervisor of the Native Department, in evidence before the Royal Commission on Native Af. fairs to-day. He said that at first the Maoris regarded the land development scheme with suspicion. Putting it baldly, they regarded it as a. trick by the Government to gain possession of their lands. They now favoured the scheme, though some of them were confused about it. It was largely due tp the influence of Princess Te Puea Herangi and her cousins that. the Natives in the Waikato and Maniapotb areas had kept on with the scheme. The witness said emphatically that the scheme had revived the interest of the Maori in his own land and had provided work for a large number. It had raised their standard of living and had improved tlieir health. -If the scheme failed it would be disastrous. The Maoris would slip back into the slough of despond and would be very hostile to any similar scheme in the future.

In reply to Mr Justice Smith, the witness said that if the Government and the leaders of the Maori race fell out the scheme would be wrecked and hundreds of thousands which had been spent on it would be lost.