STATE ADVANCES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16174, 10 July 1923, Page 8

STATE ADVANCES.

CLAIM FROM THE MAORI

(Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day

When members of the House of Representatives were discussing extended lending facilities under the State Advances scheme, the Hon. A. T. Ngata, Eastern Maori member, made an unexpected contribution to the debate, suggesting that the funds of the Native Trustee be supplemented by the Government, so that advances could be made to Maori farmers, preferably from the State Advances Department’s funds. He reminded the House that the former Native Minister, the late Sir Wm. Herries, had said that we owed a debt to the Maoris, and should finance those who were ambitious to emulate their pakeha brothers. What proportion of State Advances’ funds, asked Mr. Ngata, had been loaned to the Maoris. He suggested that it was less than £250,000. The Maoris were driven to rely on the Native Trustee, who had' not sufficient money for the purpose, therefore this fund should be supplemented Yroin the Government on a £ for £ basis and the money administered by the Public Trustee. He admitted that lending to natives might appear on the face of things unsafe. There must be a system of oversight over the expenditure and advice to natives, who would get • the best results from their farms. This system was being successfully operated with East Coast • trusts lands by Judge Rawson, who employed an expert supervisor, a former Stock agent. This officer reported that all farms under supervision last year wore successful, and his best manager was a native.

Mr. Ngata added that he believed the Native Trust Office woukl show a profit this year of £I4,OCX), which the Finance Minister would collar. It ought to be loaned back to the Maoris, and they could well say to the Nativo, Minister: “Here’s our money 7, give us yours.”