NATIVE ESTIMATE

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1934, Page 9

NATIVE ESTIMATE

PROTEST IN THE HOUSE REPORT ASKED FOR FIRST FINDING OF COMMISSION "MINISTER ON HIS TRIAL” By Telegraph—Press Association. ■ t Wellington, Oct. 5. A protest against the Native Affairs Department vote being considered just as if nothing had happened was made by Mr. M. J. Savage, Leader of the Opposition, when the House of Representatives resumed discussion of the estimates in committee this morning. The vote for the department was passed. Mr. Savage said that in view of recent happenings he considered that with so tnany other items that could be discussed the item should be left until the report of the Royal Commission was presented to the House. The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, Prime Minister, said he could not understand, the Opposition taking up that attitude. The money had been expended and no matter what, the finding of the commission was the' estimates had to be passed. When the report was before the .House the Government had been subjected to all sorts of charges which were entirely unfounded, and the Government had sufficient confidence in the chairman of the commission, who was a member of the Supreme Court bench, to believe that an unbiased report would be presented, Mr. W. A. Veitch (Independent, Wanganui) contended that the Minister of Native Affairs was on his trial. With information available to members the House was able to make a fair decision. -It was decidedly unfair that the House • should grant the Minister money to carry on the department till the end. of the £ year before the recommendations of the commission were known. The matter did not affect; the Native race only, but all taxpayers of New Zealand. The protest' was supported by other members. ' Mr. Tau Henare (Coalition, Northern Maori) asked why objection was not taken to the passing of the Agricultural Department vote when the report of the Dairy Commission was-not available.— Mr. Savage said the two sets of circumstances were very different. In the Native Affairs Department there was a suggestion of maladministration. He moved as a protest that the vote be reduced by £5. The Hon. J. G. Coates said he did not think the commission’s report would be received before October 20. Parliament could not rise until it had that report. It was possible that the estimates would have to be out of the way by that time. It was hoped to finish the estimates in a week or 10 days. The Dairy Commission’s report was expected by October 1 15. It would then be possible to say * "when the session would finisli. Mr. Veitch moved that the committee ■should report progress and ask leave to sit again. That, he said, would have the effect of postponing the item till a later date. ,■ t < ' ' A division was called for on Mr. Veitch’s amendment, which was defeated by 34 votes to 25. A division was also called for on Mr; Savage’s amendment. This was defeated by 35 votes to 25. . Sir Apirana Ngata, Native Minister, replying, said there was not a single item likely to be affected by the commission. Even if an officer were to be dis.missed, he had to be paid up to the time 'he was dismissed. Even if the native development schemes were stopped, which he thought was the last thing Parliament should do, payments would have to be made up to the time of the stoppage. , Complaints had been made of a shortage of staff. The estimates this year showed an increase of £lOOO, which was an indication of reorganisation. The. item was passed. [