PURCHASES OF LAND

Stratford Evening Post, Volume III, Issue 83, 28 June 1934, Page 5

PURCHASES OF LAND

Native Development I Schemes TENDERS NOT CALLED FOR Press Association —Cmjvrieht Wellington, Last Night. The Native Affairs Commissic- continued its inquiry to-day, when Mr. G. P. Shepherd, chief clerk of the Native Deportment, proceeded with his evidence regarding purchases made in connection with the land development schemes. In the course of buying, said Mr. Shepherd, tenders were not called for. The question of buying by tender never arose. M". Shepherd expressed the opinion tb<»t under the Treaty of WTaitangi land could not be forcibly taken from t’>.. r.atives for development. These had to be substantial agreement between the Natives and the department.

Mr. Shepherd was questioned regarding stock purchases from Mr. Wilson.

Mr. Johnston; Did you take any steps to point out to the Minister that this was unconstitutional?

Mr. Shepherd; No. 1 discussed it with the Minister on one occasion and said he had better not buy from Mr, Wilson. The Minister stated he got good stock from Mr. Wilson.

Mr. Johnston: Who fixed the prices?— The Minister carried out the negotiations himse 1 ' with Mr. Wilson. The purchases with Wilson were carried out by the Minister apart altogether from the office?—Yes. Did you point out that the usual method of buying stock was through the Department of Agriculture?—Yes; that was frequently discussed, but we had exemption for livestock, and the exemption provided that we should combine with the Department of Agriculture as far as possible, and that was done quite frequently. Evidence for the Anglican Church simile :• to that of Father Riordan for the Catholic Church, in reply to allegations of undue religious discrimination against the Maori Purposes Fund Control Board, W'.s given by Mr. E. G. Loten, headmast • of Te Aute College, a Maori secondary school under the control cf the Church of England. Charges which hat! been made by Mr. Clark, headmaster of Worley College at Paerata, were, he said, wholly unfounded. • I ■ groc with Father Riordan that ndtiici the Education Department nor the hoard discriminates upon any religiou, !v . " he said. “T. .. schools themselv 1 . and their controlling authorities do not discriminate In fact all are concentrated upon educational work in a spirit of most profound tolerance, and 1 regret that any note of dissension should have been struck at this larto stage of church educational work." Mr. N. T. Lambourne, Director of Education, described the system of giving scholarships to Maori pupils, and stated the Maori Purposes Board had been impartial in its use of funds for this purpose. The commission will ‘ continue the h: a ring to-morrow morning.