LAND DEVELOPMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21781, 21 April 1934, Page 14

LAND DEVELOPMENT

; ACCOUNTING DIFFICULTY : ALOOFNESS OF WAIKATOS ; 'influence of te puea Further evidence regarding the control of native land settlement schemes was given before tho Royal ,Commission. yesterday. E, P. Earle, registrar of tho Tokcrau and WaikatorManiapoto Maori Land Boards, continuing his evidence, said thai» field officers had had difficulty in getting stores dockets signed. Thero wero 727 "unit" schemes in tho two districts. It was usual to make up consignments for about a dozen units at a time and send them to the local foreman, who signed for them. "My part is signing the requisitions and ordering tho goods," added tho witness. Mr. Johnston: Could you not give an account of the machinery? Witness: I leave that to the accountant and stores clerk. Mr. Johnston: But is it not very important to know where the stores go? Witness: Yes, but I have so many othfir duties to perform. I must delegate it to the accountant and clerk. His Honor: Are you not even aware of the system ? Witness: 1 have an idea, but I do not wish to mislead you. A system is there,. I can tell you that. Land Board Funds Borrowed Paul A. Stubbing, accountant in the Auckland office of tho Native Department, said that his duties covered both the Tokerau and Wnikato-Maniapoto districts. Most of tho settlement accounts were kept at tho head office in Wellington,. 1" March, 1932, a special stafii was appointed by tho Minister to deal with development schemes, and an accounts clerk was appointed for each district' to handle vouchers. He, personally, had never been notified of his inclusion in the new system. In May, 1933, ho suggested that scheme accounts should be opened in the local oifico. This was adopted in part, and v/hollv fiotn April 1 last. There was now utisfactory and entirely decentrali ,i system. The Tokerau ...mrd had had about £40.000 to tho credit of nativo beneficiaries on deposit with the Nativo Trustee. The Native Department had used £32,000 of this for tho To Kao development scheme and most of the remainder for other purposes, leaving the board only about £IOOO with which to meet claims by the beneficiaries, who were credited with about £40,000 on its ledgers. The department had also taken over £16,000 of loans to natives and had repaid some £6OOO in two j-eais. It was paying 3J -per cent interest on the balance. EeotUying of Vouchers

Tho Waikato-Maniapoto Board had had to ration its beneficiaries for a littlis over two years. It had over £30,000 with tho Native Trustee, who had formerly allowed tho board £IOOO for its requirements. He did not know now what was happening to the money. Other funds were increasing, and the board was able to meet rent claims in full, though not payments on account of capital. R„ J. Taylor, accounts clerk for the Waikato-Maniapoto district, said he considered that practically all Lores had been accounted for, except some that had been stolen. The system now in use was satisfactory. J. McKain, accounts clerk for. the Tokerati district, said that stores dockets were more than two years behind when he took up the position. A new system was evolved, but. the arrears had not yet been overtaken, except in . compact groups of units in the charge of a foreman. Tukere Te Anga, formerly native welfare officer nt Ngaruawahia and now stationed at Auckland, said that he had been In. tho Public Service since 1907. In 1929 he was transferred to Ngaruawahia to tako charge of a "scavenging committee" . working in native settlements after an epidemic of dysentery. This committee was really an excuse used by the Native Minister for investigating the causes of tho Waikatos' antagonism to Government officials, wjith a view to gaining their confidence and endeavouring to assist them. He Was at an advantage in bolonging to the Miiniapotos and in boing rolated to Princess Te Puea. Chieftainess in Charge He was appointed, for practical purposes, by the Minister as officer in charge of land development in the Waikato, and held the position of chief field officer officially from 1932 onward. He had not owned or worked on a farm, but he had had much to do with land in tho course of his duties. The witness described the procedure in getting apart lands for units, most of which, Hie said, consisted of families numbering up to ten people, one of whom was placed in charge and made responsible. Where land had not boon subdivided., it was simply cut up for development by units. All worked together in friendly co-operation, because the schemes had boon instituted at their own request. He had never considered'himself competent to say that the farms would ultimately pay, but he endeavoured to keep costs down in proportion to the value of the land. Mr. Quilllam read an extract from a j report by the witness' successor in October last regarding the Waikarakm section of the Onewhero scheme, to j the effect that some portions of tho development should be abandoned in . order to make the first loss the last, j since the land was poor and would require heavy manuring. Wailkatos' Need of Help

The witness said he had taken tho nature of tho land into consideration. He did not .*v;rco with the report. Ho would not say that he always considered the ultimate cost of development in the different schemes; he did not believe that that could be determined. Questioned by Mr. Finlay, the witness said thai when lie went among them iu 1929 the Waikato people were poorly housed and clothed, but he did not see any shortage of food. Te Puea had already become interested in a scheme for land development and relief. His arrival was recognised by her as an aid in this. Tho rest of tho Waikatos did not share her views at first, and passively opposed her plans. She accordingly wont away to Waipipi and undertook work there. In 12 months there was much talk of the success of the scheme, and it was not long before tho then Maori "king," To Rata Mahuta, and his brothers were won over. Costs in tho Waikato schemes were vory low, in his opinion. Men on wages were paid 6s a. day, and contract rates averaged 4s to ss. Mr. Fin]ay: Take Te Rata and his family, would it bo possible for a European supervisor to issue orders to them ? Witness: It is not for me to Hay. Speaking as a Maori, I should not attempt to dictate to Te Rata's family. Mr. Finlay: Do you believe that tho schemes in the Waikato will be a success P Witness: Yes. I qualify that by saying. so long as Te Puea supports them. The sittings were adjourned until Monday. The commission will spend today in visiting development schemes near Auokland.