NATIVE AFFAIRS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19803, 19 May 1934, Page 19

NATIVE AFFAIRS

ADMINISTRATION OF LAND SCHEMES I EVIDENCE TENDERED TO COMMISSION By Telegraph—Press Association ROTORUA, May 18. The Native Commission this morning gave further consideration to complaints concerning the action of the Minister in setting aside land at Okataina for development. It was contended by a section of the native owners that they had suffered wrong by this action which was contrary to their wishes. The chairman finally indicated that the matter was one for the court and not for the Commission. Mr R. A. Potter, representing six district storekeepers, raised the question of the credit extended to the natives on the schemes. All his clients were owed large sums of money and had given credit on the assurance of responsible officers of the department that payment would be made. George French said he was still owed £123, Ronald David Garriock £7l, Samuel Thomas Keen £l4l/16/7, Sarah Ann Lewis £172/7/9, Kada Mia £466/2/- and Mrs M. E. Monk £470. All six of these storekeepers gave evidence that they had given credit on the assurance of various employees of the department that the accounts would be met. The accountant of the Waiariki Land Board, J. H. Watson, however, denied that any definite assurance had been given and Rei Vercoe, foreman at Rotoiti, said that he had definitely told Mrs Monk that she must look for payment to the men themselves. His Honour said it was a bad thing that storekeepers were placed in this position, and suggested that officers of the board and the department should confer with Mr Potter and endeavour to arrive at some solution which could be submitted to the Commission. Mr Potter appealed for a more satisfactory system that would safeguard tradespeople. Fencing at Maketu. Mr Quilliam raised the question of fencing at Maketu carried out by Tai Mitchell and referred to in the report of the Auditor-General. Mitchell m two reports to his head office had stated that a sum of £696 had been expended on fencing properties outside the scheme at Maketu. Mr Quilliam said it was quite clear that at the time Mitchell made this report £476 of the amount mentioned had been expended on fencing lands actually gazetted. It was plain therefore, that Mitchell’s statement was incorrect at the time and against himself. His Honour said that the matter was not yet cleared up. It still appeared that a sum of £219 had been expended on ungazetted land. Mr Hampson, for Mitchell, affirmed Mr Quilliam’s statement ahd added that there had never at any time been any admission by Mitchell of corruption. The Auditor-General’s report was based upon a report made by Mitchell to his head office.

Further evidence on this question was given by Frederick Rodgers, foreman at Maketu, who said that Mitchell had given him explicit instructions to keep a careful individual tally of the materials used in the erection of the fencing round Mitchell’s property and to send this in to the office. This had been done. Buying of Stock. Further evidence was called concerning the stock dealings of D. D. Wilson, buyer, of Hamilton. Arthur Wakefield Ward, manager cf the Hamilton branch of the Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., said that so far as he knew, Wilson had used the organisation of his firm for his buying. His firm collected the vendor’s commission on all deals put through for Wilson. So far as he knew Wilson was not known as a big buyer in the Waikato. He considered that his company could have bought quite as well as Wilson. The position was that is company found the stock for Wil--1 on to buy, and that Wilson sold it to the Native Department. Dealing with the department’s purchase of Iles’s property for £SOOO, Charles William Griffiths said that before its sale to the department this property had been in his hands for sale at a price of £2600. Ernest Alfred Meredith, Government valuer, Rotorua, said that the Government valuation of lies’ property at the time was £2045. He had been consulted unofficially about the purchase by Wright, the department’s supervisor, and had advised against it. He had shown Wright the Government valuation. Evidence alleging d.t satisfaction among the Maoris of the district with the administration of the schemes was given by Whare Mika, a native unemployment investigating officer, who said that his work brought him closely into touch with all sections of the native population. Witness made a number of general allegations, but when asked to give details could do so only in one or two instances. He mentioned two foremen who. he said, had told him that they had signed blank pay sheets, but when these men were called they did not substantiate this.