NATIVE LAND

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19805, 22 May 1934, Page 6

NATIVE LAND

DEVELOPMENT OF BLOCKS CRITICISM OFFERED By Telegraph—Press Association ROTORUA. May 21. A number of specific complaints and criticisms regarding the administration of Native development schemes in the Ruatoki district, were made by John Horace Douglas Rutledge in the course of his evidence before the Native Commission, this morning. Mr Rutledge said that he was appointed at the commencement of the Ruatoki schemes as supervisor, but was dismissed in 1931 without any explanation being given him. Witness alleged that throughout his period of employment he had been left without directions by the Minister. He had asked for guidance on a number of points in a series of written questions, but the Minister had answered only a few, and then very briefly. Witness also claimed that the general policy with regard to the scheme was weak in many respects, and that his efforts to introduce a proper system had been ignored.

He denied that he had made the complaints because of his dismissal, stating that in the best Interests of the Maori people the complaints should be ventilated. He claimed that he had been left without sub-divisional plans of two of the schemes, in spite of repeated requests that these should be supplied; also that no supplies of posts had been given when urgently needed, and that his recommendation that willows be planted to prevent river erosion had been ignored, with a result that 300 acres of land had been lost. He alleged that the B scheme at Ruatoki had teen wrongly handled, and that the A scheme should have been fully developed before diverting activities elswhere. He did not consider the B scheme to be a good farming proposition, and claimed that no interest was taken by the Minister or head office in the proper instruction of the settlers in farming matters, and that this was a very grave weakness in the scheme. The Minister had reported very favourably to Parliament on the scheme, and very soon afterwards he dismissed witness without an explanation. His place had been taken by an ex-clerk and interpreter of the Native Land Court, who had no experience in farming. Replying to Mr Findlay, witness admitted that the Minister had informed him that his reports were “eye-wash,” but denied that the Minister ever orally expressed dissatisfaction with his work. Ultimate Benefit. An appeal that the ultimate benefit of the Maori land development schemes should not be lost sight of in the mass of detail created as a result of its investigations was made by Henry Taiporutu Mitchell, chairman of the Arawa Trust Board and Maori land consolidation officer in opening his evidence before the Commission this afternoon. “About this unemployment work on development schemes round which much audit complaints centre,” said witness, “I should like to say, and do so with diffidence and respect, that there appears to be a danger in the present inquiry burying under those complaints the great effort that has been made by the Maori people during the critical years of the depression. I believe that the Maori people who have taken part in the development schemes and who were called on to exert themselves to the utmost have looked forward to this opportunity in order that therein some acknowledgement may be made of their good work. They have had to resist the attractions of the Unemployment Board’s other relief schemes, and a good many of them have had to look far ahead for a reward in the possibility of getting on the land. If a return could be prepared showing the kind of work done on quantity and piece-work rates, it would then be useful to compare it with other work done with relief labour by other departments. The isolation of this inquiry to the work done by the Maori people and the narrow - ing down of the issues because of audit complaints leaves the men of the Arawa tribe at least wondering where all this is tending.” Witness read a long statement to the Commission in which he outlined nis experience in Maori administration matters and his close connection with the land development schemes in the Rotorua district since their inception. He outlined the development of each scheme and his own personal activities in connection with them. He produced survey maps, etc., showing the boundaries of the schemes and the distribution of the various sub-tribes in the district. "To carry out the terms of the arrangement with the Unemployment Board to use the grant made to it for relieving Maori unemployment through work on development schemes, it was necessary to organise work in such a way that it did give relief to the extent of the money male available,” said witness. “Also it was necessary to organise it in such a way that departmental delays did not throw men out of such work more than was avoidable and back on the Board's other relief schemes. The position to-day is that these are such delays. There may be good reasons for them, but they are not apparent to us here, who are interested in the human or tribal side. Good men or gangs, the very material that we are looking for to provide permanent and satisfactory settlers on the land, cannot wait while those in authority see that all proper approvals, cheques, and the paper end of the business are satisfactorily disposed of before giving the word to start.”

Viewpoint of Arawas. In concluding his statement, witness respectfully asked the Commission to record the following matters as the general viewpoint of the Arawa people: (1) Those sub-tribes who have placed their lands under development taka the opportunity of expressing their thanks and appreciation to the people of New Zealand for the comprehensive, practical and unique legislation which has enabled the Maori to utilise his land with State aid and assistance and under proper guidance and supervision. (2) The schemes now in operation have for the first time in the history of New Zealand, established for the Maori a definite objective in life whereto and whereby he can devote his energy and effort for his own benefit and that of the Dominion. Thereupon his own labour, honesty of purpose and due sense of responsibility depends on the right of the Maori to live side by side with the pakeha. sharing his prosperity as well as his burdens. Your Commission is charged with a grave and tremendous responsibility, for upon the findings and recommendations rest the life, happine.s and future of that section of the nrtive race which tills the soil. Witness closed his statement by commending to the Commission a well-known saying of the Maori people: “A warrior's fame lives but for a time.

that of the tiller of the soil for ever.’’ When the adjournment was taken witness was giving evidence in regard to specific audit complaints in connection with the Maketu scheme of which he was supervisor. Mr N. Johnstone. Hamilton, appeared on behalf of D. D. Wilson, and produced the cash book and bank boex of his client for inspection. He lodged a formal complaint against the production of income tax returns and was was given time to consult his client.