MAORIS ON LAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21807, 23 May 1934, Page 14

MAORIS ON LAND

DEVELOPMENT METHODS INQUIRY AT ROTORUA EVIDENCE OF MR. MITCHELL ! " SATISFIED WITH WORK" [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] KOTORL A, Tuesday Further evidence dealing with tha administration of land development schemes in tho Rotorua district was given by Mr. H. Tai Mitchell before the Native Affairs Commission at its sitting at Rotorua to-d<iy, Ths corn* mission consists of Mr. Justice Smith,, chairman, and Messrs. L. W. Nelson•T. Alexander and D. G. Johnston. Mr.' 11. IT. Quilliam, instructed by the Government, appeared to assist the commission, Mr. G. P. Finlay appeared for members of tho native race, and Mr. H. M. Hampson for Mitchell. At tho opening of to-day's -sitting Mr. N. S. Johnson, on behalf of Mr.D. D. Wilson, said ho had to acknowledge that his client's records regarding his stock transactions with tho Native Department were far from complete. Some of tho amounts had nofc gone through' tho bank, but had been paid directly to firms with whom his client had been dealing. Counsel raid ho proposed to ascertain the full amounts and to make an explanation to tho commission. His client had over-stated tho position in saying hi> had complete records, which he had not. Mr. Quilliam said ho was in somewhat of a difficulty in view of what Mr. : Johnson had said

i A Witness Recalled The chairman said that Mr. Wilson had told the commission he was a largo stock dealer and that he could produce his books from 1928 onwards. Recalled, David Donald Wilson said the books he had been able tp-produ-ja were those ho had found during tlio week. If ho could find the other records ho would be only too pleased lo produce them.

Mr. Johnsoij, said he would get as much information as he could and if the commission desired more informa-, tion his client would give it in Wellington. Continuing his evidence, Henry Taiporotu Mitchell said that on six sec-,, tions owned by him at Maketu 15 2-3 chains of fencing had been carried out in March, 1032, £l9 12s 6d had; been charged to him at the office on: his instructions. He had been authorised 5 by tho Minister verbally to fenc«| sections outside the scheme, the objectbeing to enable stock to crush noxi-j ous weeds. It was untrue that he had! prepared the reports of January 23 and, 29, 1031, because he feared Mr. Petrie's investigation. Witness said he had been' thoroughly examined by the - police over Maketu. Attitude to Consolidation Witness said the amount chargeable to blocks not gazetted amounted to; £219 19s 9d and was in accord with., a statement by the Minister that at, the same time the Arawa Trust Board must bear the liability. In the mean-; time the Minister had .said the work; would be charged ; to the scheme. 1 Witness had been definitely told by. the, Minister to use scheme material! in the reconditioning of fencing. Dealing with ..consolidation, witness said the people had accepted develop- 1 ment as beneficial to their o>vn interests. Some tribes were still sus-| picious and the sitting of tho commis-i sion here would tend to increase Witness thought the schemes would be a success and he was satisfied with the work that had been done. Witness, as chairman of the. Arawa' Trust Board, then gave a detailed ac-i count of the income and expendi-j ture of the board. In. referring to re-; cent criticism by Mr. 11. C. Clark, principal of Wesley Training College 4 Paerata, of certain expenditure by the Maori Purposes Board, witness denied a charge of partiality to the East Coast: and Rotorua districts in connection, with educational grants and - scholar-; ships. He also justified the expenditure on the Ngaruawahia meeting and its purposes and fhat on the East Coast meeting houses and the recent Waitangi gathering. Questions About Fencing "I can only say that if Mr. Clarke had been in possession of tho facts and understood their significance from tho Maori standpoint," added Mr. Mitchell,; "he would not have made his criticism." x

Cross-examined by Mr. Quilliam, witness admitted that no assessment of the value of fencing at Maketu had been made and no one had been charged. Witness said he had a*ked Mr. Rogers to send in details of fencing and he knew that no attempt had been mado by the office to charge him. That had happened on several occasions and he knew it was owing to shortage of staff. Ho also knew the office would eventually charge him. Witness contended that the instructions were clear and the fencing should have been referred to him.

Instructions for fencing had been given orally by the Minister and although the Minister had been staying at his house witness admitted ho had mado no attempt to get instructions in writing.

Mr. Finlay said he had been present at Air. Mitchell's house in the presence of the Minister and the latter had stated there ho had given Mr,. Mitchell authority and would mention it when ho was called to give evidence in Wellington. In connection with an invoice of the Sawmillers' Timber Trading Company, Hamilton, charging the Waiariki Land Board for timber for a house of witness' at Maketu,, witness said he. thought it was a mistake. Ho had not made an effort to have the question cleared up, as his action might have been put down to the investigation. " Very Good Testimony " .Re-examined by Mr. Hampson, witness said there was no work that ho had done in the last four years for which lie had any regret. Walter Reid, farmer and chairman of the Whakatane County Council, said that at Ruatoki natives had been suffering hardship before tho scheme. There had then been a number of young natives who had land, but had been unable to get a start. This they had obtained by the scheme and they had been a great success. As shown in the dairy factory returns, there were now 100 suppliers. Tho effect of other schemes had also beerO to improve the conditions of the Maoris. He did not have the slightest doubt they would remain on tho land. His experience was that the Maoris wore just as good as some of the pakelias. Tho Chairman: I think that is very good testimony. Gabriel Elliott, representing Maoris in the King Country, said he wished to convey expressions of regret from the natives in that district that the commission could not sit at Te Kuiti. Evidence was given by Pouaka Wehi, chief of the Ngati Rereahu sub-tribe of the Xgati Maniapoto tribe, and by Horima To Amohonga, a scheme worker. , The commission adjourned until tomorrow, when it is anticipated the evidence at the Rotorua sitting will completed.