WORK WITHOUT PLANNING

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1934, Page 5

WORK WITHOUT PLANNING

COMPLAINT AGAINST MINISTER. DEVELOPMENT OF NATIVE LANDS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Public proceedings in the inquiry being held by the Native Affairs Commission recommenced at Wellington to-day, when counsels’ addresses were opened by Mr. R. H. Quilliam, who was appointed by the Government to assist the commission, in a broad survey of the evidence. Mr. Quilliam laid a complaint against the Native Minister, Sir Apirana Ngata, of having carried on with land development work for Maoris without adequate planning and stocktaking. For this, as in certain other aspects '.of the department’s administration, Mr. Quilliam submitted that the wide personal control which the Minister exercised left him with the full responsibility. It was further suggested that the Minister had rushed through with development, schemes with the object of committing the country to as much expenditure as possible, so that they would have to be continued. Mr. Quilliam’s address had not been completed when the commission adjourned until to-morrow morning. Mr. G. P. Finlay, who is appearing on behalf of the Maori race, has yet to make his submissions.