NATIVE AFFAIRS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22268, 22 May 1934, Page 13

NATIVE AFFAIRS

LAND DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMISSION. (Per United Pbess Association.) ROTORUA, May 21. A number of . specific complaints and criticisms regarding the administration of the Native development schemes in the Ruatoki district were made by Mr John Horace Douglas Rutledge in the- course' of his evidence before the Native Commission this morning. Mr Rutledge said that he was appointed at the commencement of the Ruatoki schemes as supervisor, but was dismissed in 1931 without any explanation being given. Witness alleged that throughout his period of employment he had been left without directions by the Minister. He had asked for guidance on a number of points in a series of written questions, but the'Minister had answered only a few, and then very briefly. Witness also claimed that'the general policy with rer gard to the scheme was.weak in many respects, and that his efforts to introduce a : proper system had been- ignored. He denied that he had made his/coniplaints because of his dismissal, stating, that in the best interests of the Maori people his complaints should be ventilated. '■-. He claimed that he had been-left without subdivisional plans of two of the schemes in spite of repeated requests that these should be applied, also'that no supplies of posts were given when urgently needed; and that his recommendation that willows be planted to prevent river erosion had been ignored, with the result that 300 acres of land were lost. He alleged that the B scheme at Ruatoki had been wrongly handled, and that the scheme should- have been fully developed before diverting activities elsewhere. He did not consider the B scheme a good farming proposition. He claimed that no interest was taken by the Minister or the head office in proper instruction.of the settlers in farming matters, and that this,was a very grave weakness in the scheme. The Minister had reported very favourably to Parliament on the scheme, and had very soon afterwards dismissed witness without an explanation. His place had been taken by an ex-clerk, an interpreter of the Native Land Court, who had no experience in farming. To Mr Finlay witness admitted that the Minister had informed him' that his reports were " eyewash," but he denied that the Minister had ever-orally expressed dissatisfaction with his work. An appeal.that the ultimate benefit of Maori land development schemes should not be lost sight of in the mass of detail created as the result of the investigations was made by Mr Henry Taiporutu Mitchell, chairman of the Arawa Trust Board and Maori-Land Consolidation. : "In connection with this unemployment work on development schemes round which much of the audit complaints centre," said witness, " I should like to say, and do so with diffidence and respect, that there appears to be a danger in the present inquiry of burying .under those complaints the great effort that has been made by the Maori people during the critical years of the depression. I believe that the Maori people who .have taken part in the development schemes and who were called on to exert themselves to the utmost have looked forward to this opportunity in. order that therein some acknowledgment may be made of their good work. They have had to resist the attractions of the ' Unemployment Board's other relief schemes, and a good many of them have had to. look far ahead for the reward in the possibility of getting on the land. ■ If a return-could be prepared showing the kind of work done, the quantity and the piecework rates, it would then be useful to compare with the other work done the relief "labour by the other departments. The isolation of this inquiry to the work done by the Maori people and the narrowing down of the issues because of the audit, complaints to the issues adopted: arid- the departures from the regulation?! leaves the men of. the Arawa tribe at. least wondering where all this is tending." Witness read a; lengthy statement to the commission in which he outlined his experience in Maori administration matters and his close connection with land development schemes in the Rotoi'ua district since then. He outlined in detail the developments, of each of the schemes and his own personal activities in connection with them. He produced survey maps, etc., showing the boundaries, schemes; and distribution of the various sub-tribes in the district. 1

When the adjournment was taken witness was giving. evidence in regard to specific audit complaints in connection witfi theMaketu scheme, of which he was supervisor. '- Mr X. Johnstone, of Hamilton, appeared ou behalf of Mr D. D. Wilson and produced a cash book and bank book of his client for inspection; He lodged a formal complaint against the production of income tax returns, and was given time to consult-his client. _