METHODS OUTLINED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18397, 15 May 1934, Page 11

METHODS OUTLINED

NATIVE ADMINISTRATION DEV EL DEMENT SCHEMES COMMISSION AT ROTORUA (Per Press Association.) ROTORUA, last night, The native affairs inquiry was continued this afternoon. Hairy Murbrook, audit inspector, said that he had reported on the accounts ot the Arawa Trust Board in 1924, ami lotind them iu order, although he' drew attention to tho fact that the signature of the chairman, 11. Tai Mitchell, was not always on the vouchers. This had since been rectified. The board had wide powers, while certain powers were clearly defined. The final clause regarding expenditure said, “and for the amount and purpose for which the board may think in the interest of the tribe.” Mr. G. P. Finlay protested that the affairs of the trust were not within the scope of the commission, but the chairman ruled otherwise. The /witness said the chairman of ttm board had authority to make advances up to £IOO from his private funds, afterwards recouping himself from the, board by way of voucher. This practice was contrary to trustee law, and his department gave instructions to discontinue it. It appeared that the first two unemployment contracts made by the board 'were irregular, and that incorrect vouchers had lx>en forwarded. It. was subsequently explained that this had been done to facilitate obtaining money. Mr. Finlay, said this was due to a misconception, which was subsequently remedied. The witness agreed that it was necessary for the board to advauee sums for individual relief. This was the reason given for the chairman of the hour*l making private advances; It was also agreed that Mitchell had never drawn his honorarium of £IOO per annum. SYSTEM INTRODUCED Tiweka Anaru, registrar of the YVaiariki Native Land Board, said that its accounts were in a sound financial position, although he had to proceed carefully to account for the difficulty in obtaining money. lit reply to the chairman, the witness said that when the board took over tin; administration of native laud development in the Rotorua, district, no special arrangements were made for the" extra accountancy work involved. At first he did not obtain receipts for stores, but later a, system was introduced, and this was being followed. Ilis office always took the necessary stops to assure itself of the eligibility of men on unemployment relief. The inquiries had been further cheeked by the Unemployment Board officers under the new system introduced last October.

Mr R. 11. Quilliant mentioned the case of two expert fencers named Bristow, who had drawn £4 and £4 10s petweek respectively on relief. Tho witness admitted this, but said that the two men mentioned had to stand down for a considerable period to make up for the extra money they had drawn. If pakelias were employed on Maori relief, it was done without his knowledge. Communications with the Native Minister Were partly oral, and partly by telephone, but mostly by memorandum. Records were generally made of telephoned instructions, but not always. lie had intimated that he would -not accept instructions passed on to him through Mitchell, as he thought they should come from the head office. Unofficial meetings were held with the Minister at Mitchell’s residence, which witness attended. Sometimes decisions were made and instructions issued at these meetings. The chairman inquired what' was meant when ‘a hypothetical increase’ in the stock was mentioned. SHORTAGE OF STAFF The .witness said this was probably just to balance the figures. The witness said the object of the scheme was to get the'Maori on to his land, and get him to work it. He thought they were achieving the object. He had not yet received instructions regarding the form of tenure when the land was ready to bo handed over to units. There was possibly' some land ready to be handed over at Horohoro and Tikitero now.

The chairman asked why this land had not begn handed over, but the witness said he had not considered it wise to do so yet. There were no troubles in the district between the natives. The Waikatos had been welcomed among them, lie had no comment to make on the system of paying wages, which lie considered satisfactory. The ordering of stores was also now quite satisfactory. He agreed that the accounts were behind but this was due to lack of stall. When the schemes started 1 he had 11 clerks fully engaged on land board work. In 1930, when seven schemes were commenced he was given only two extra clerks. In 1931 when 11 schemes were started! he got two more, and in 1932, when -nine more schemes commenced lie got one extra clerk. To Mr. Finlay, ihe witness said that it was probably two years since he had any complaints regarding the purchase of stores. Mitchell had used his own truck in connection with the development scheme work, while he had also been compelled to spend large amounts of bis own money in entertaining visitors in connection with scheme matters. Mitchell was looked on as the- head of the Arawas, and of tho development scheme work. Tho field staff was also short, and the work was falling in arrears on this account. The natives were doing productive work, and were apparently content. He. did not think they would leave their land.