A RESIGNATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7930, 13 October 1911, Page 1

A RESIGNATION

! NATIVE LAND DEPARTMENT AND AN OPEXCIAL. In accordance with promise the Native Minister yesterday laid before the House tho correspondence relating to the resignation of Mr A. Keefer, until lately the president of tho Tairawhiti District Maori Land Board. Mr Keefer said that ho resigned because he had interference and dictation from the head of tho department in connection with the administration of his judicial duties. This was denied by tho Native Minister, who pointed out that it was essential in the interests of proper administration that the department should exercise a general supervision over all tho Maori land boards. - Tho papers show that tho trouble arose through the action of the board in dealing/ with tho Wharckahika block. On August 21st tho Onder-Secretary for Nativo Affairs wrote to the president of tho board, drawing attention to tho fact that it had been taking a very wide interpretation of a section of the Nativo Land Act, which suggests that any board may, "in tho public interest," allow certain proceedings. The Under-Secretary expressed surprise at what had been dona in this case and said that tho course followed "would hardly be considered of benefit to the public generally." After some correspondence Mr Keefer wrote to the Under-Secretary forwarding certain information imd adding: "I regret that i should have been mistaken in supposing that our board was a judicial one and as such were supposed to take an intelligent reading of tne Act and administer it to tho best of our ability, but it is clear from your memos, that such is not the case. In the face of your direction 1 can only refuse or adjourn all matters, whatever may bo the result." On the same day he wrote resigning his position on the ground that he felt he could no longer occupy a false position on any judicial beard. In acknowledging tho letters tho Under-Secretary suggested that the resignation should be deterred until the end of the year, as tho department was working nt high pressure, which made it inconvenient to appoint fresh officers. Mr Keefer replied tnat he would carry on as suggested. He took it that he would have a free hand in the discharge of his official duties for tho remainder of his term.

’The last letter from the Dnder-Seora- ■ tary intimated that he hardly followed chis statement. lie added: "1 do not understand what you are alluding to, for as tar as 1 am aware very little interference has been made in the working of the board. . . . When I find a board has to some extent misinterpreted a particular section of tho Act ... I should be wanting in my duty if I did not point out the position. If-you look into th* , Act carefully yon will see that the procedure adopted . . . can hardly bo conducive to good settlement or what it is intended the Native Land Act should allow." Mr Keefer's reply was a telegraphed intimation that his resignation would take effect at the end of .October