NATIVE AFFAIRS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22137, 15 December 1933, Page 10

NATIVE AFFAIRS

The conclusion expressed in the report of the Public Accounts Committee, which was presented to the House of Representatives yesterday, with reference to the Auditor-general’s refusal to accept responsibility for the accuracy of, the accounts of the Native land development schemes, was precisely what was to have been expected. The House can hardly have considered seriously, when it referred the Auditorgeneral’s report on this and another subject to the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday last with instructions to it to make its own report on the document on Thursday, that the committee f could accomplish the task entrusted to, it within the time. The committee seems to have addressed itself energetically to the work and to have examined a number of witnesses, including the Native Minister, whose evidence occupied three hours, but it cannot perform impossibilities. Moreover, as was indicated in the recommendation made by the committee to the House, the Native land development account is not the only matter under the control of the Native Department of which an investigation is desirable. The report of the National Expenditure Commission last year showed very clearly thatthe need exists for a thorough overhaul of the department with the view both of securing greater efficiency of administration and of bringing the various functions of, the department under betted control than has been exercised in the past. Some of the recommendations of that Commission are, it seems, now being carried into effect, among them being one for the establishment of a Native Lands Development Board to which the statutory powers at present vested in the Native Minister should be transferred. Even, however, when the reforms that are now contemplated by the Government have been effected, there is a great deal in the general administration of the Native Department that might usefully receive consideration from a body appointed for that special purpose. The decision, therefore, at which the Public Accounts Committee arrived that not 'only the matters arising out of the report of the Auditor-general but also the whole of the administration of Native affairs should be the subject of investigation by a Royal Commission should commend itself, even to those who are somewhat resentful of the appointment of Royal Commissions on the ground that, as they believe, it represents an expedient by which the Government evades a duty that should. rest upon itself. In this particular instance, however, the Native Minister considers that a personal reflection upon himself and a reflection upon his integrity are involved in the Auditor-general’s report, and in these circumstances it is obviously necessary that the investigation should be conducted by an independent commission.