NATIVE COMMISSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21765, 3 April 1934, Page 10

NATIVE COMMISSION

SITTINGS TO RESUME HEARING OF EVIDENCE The Native Affairs Commission, which held its first sitting on March 16 in Wellington and adjourned following a statement by the chairman, Mr. Justice Smith, as to the nature of the inquiry it was proposed to make, will resume in Wellington on April 10. The commission will inquire into tho administration of the departments of Government concerned with the administration of native affairs in New Zealand, and, in particular, into tho schemes now in operation for the development of the lands of the Maori people, for assisting them in farming and all questions connected therewith. The latter will include the probability of the schemes achieving the results intended, or of their being justified by the benefits they confer on the Maori people, and, secondly, tho sources from which they arc financed, and the expenditure and control of and accounting for moneys, stores and credits in connection therewith.

It will also inquiro into the funds which aro available to the Maori people, tho purposes for which they may he applied or should bo applicable, and whether they might bo used more effectively. The commission decided to sit in public to hear evidence and argument concerning the questions under inquiry, but it retains its right to take any evidence or make, any inquiries in privato whenever it thinks it necessary to do so.