NATIVE AFFAIRS INQUIRY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19806, 23 May 1934, Page 10

NATIVE AFFAIRS INQUIRY

WITNESS CRITICISED AN UNDERTAKING NOT FULFILLED By Telegraph—Press Association x ROTORUA. May 22. An admission that although his client had premised to produce full books and records to the Commission he was now unable to do so was made by Mr N. Johnstone, of Hamilton, who is appearing for D. D. Wilson, of Hamilton, stock dealer, before the Native Commission this morning. “I have to acknowledge that the records kept by Wilson are far from complete, in fact they are very slipshod,” said Mr Johnstone. “The only records he is able to produce in addition to his cashbook, bankbook, some cheque butts and income tax assessment, are four day books or diaries,” Mr Johnstone suggested that he obtain from the Native Department a record of all cheques paid to Wilson and trace all other cheques paid in connection with stock transactions for incorporation in a statement which would be sworn to by Wilson and produced to the Commission at Wellington.

“It is obvious that Wilson has trifled with the Commission; indeed a stronger word might be used,” said Mr Quilliam. “We were assured that complete records were available, but this now turns out to be untrue. We were assured of this even as late as Saturday, but now all that is produced are admittedly useless books.” Mr Quilliam said that he did not want to go into it very closely at present, but the books produced were out by approximately £6OOO. This was no use to the Commission. He was also bound to say that there was a strong suspicion that the cashbook had been made up over the week-end. Mr Johnstone said that this was not correct. Late transactions had been brought up-to-date, that was all. The chairman directed that Wilson should submit a statement to the Commission giving dates of the various transactions and along the lines suggested by Mr Johnstone. If it was necessary for him to come to Wellington to give further evidence, it was not fair that it should be at the country’s expense as he had prevented the Commission from obtaining the necessary evidence. Mr Johnstone agreed and the Commission then proceeded with the examination of Henry Taiporutu Mitchell. chairman of the Arawa Trust Board, relative to fencing at Maketu. Maketu Fencing. Witness said that he had oral authority from the Native Minister to recondition the fences in the pa area and acted on this authority. He admitted that a sum of £219 19s 9d was involved but said he considered that he had full authority for the work. He admitted that some of the sections fenced were his own property, but said that he had given the foreman instructions to take a careful tally of the material used, and send it in to the office of the Arawa Trust Board as he (Mitchell) intended to pay the account. He admitted that there was nothing in the foreman’s statement to indicate this, and said he had not yet been charged for the work by the Board. This would be done, however, in due course. The Arawa Trust Board had carried a resolution confirming his actions as chairman. Witness said that he had not endeavoured to get written confirmation from the Minister of the instructions given, as he considered if he did so his action would be misconstructed by the Audit Department. Mr Finlay said that the Minister in his hearing had stated that when he (the Minister) gave evidence before the Commission in Wellington he would

confirm what Mitchell had said. To Mr Quilliam. witness denied that there had been no report made on the question of fencing until the audit investigations commenced. He did not know that the office did not understand that he was to be charged for the fencing work. He said he had never heard the purchase of lies’ property by the Department described as “a crooked deal.” He had very little to do with it himself. Mr Finlay and Mr Hampson objected to the imputation of the words “crooked deal,” but Mr Quilliam said his conscience was clear in putting the question. The chairman said that the Commission must view’ this particular transaction as gross mismanagement at the very least. In reply to the chairman, witness said the thought that native land could all well be regarded as Crown land, and that the Crown should be trustee for the natives. The real advantage of consolidation at the present time was that it provided fencible boundaries and proper access. He thought it best that it should continue. Witness put in a long statement dealing with the operations of the Arawa Trust Board. Improved Condition of Natives. Walter Reid, chairman of the Whakatane County Council, said that the development scheme had been responsible for a great improvement in the condition of the natives. His county paid tribute to the good work done at Ruatoki, stating that the output of the dairy factory had increased by more than 50 per cent, as a result of the improvement of native farming methods and the increased area of land under cultivation. He did not contemplate the natives leaving their land as some of them had been supplying the Opouraio dairy factory for 25 years. Gabriel Elliott, on behalf of the Maniapoto Trust, expressed regret that the Commission would not sit at Te Kuiti. He presented a number of matters requiring attention in the King Country, emphasising the dissatisfaction of the natives with the administration of the Native Trust Office, and their difficulty- in obtaining funds through the Waikato - Maniapoto Maori Land Boards. Poweka Wehi, one of the paramount Maniapoto Chiefs and a large landholder in the King Country, complained of injustice by the Board in failing to raise the timber royalties on a large block owned by his family in spite of the fact that it had sanctioned a large increase in another block in similar circumstances. Witness supported the complaints regarding the Native Trust Office. and criticised some aspects of the development work in the King Country. Horima Te Amohanga, another Maniapoto native, complained of inability to obtain moneys held in trust and also with regard to the lack of financial assistance given him by thj Waikato-Maniapoto Board. Witness was instructed by the chairman to put his complaints in writing and forward them to the Commission. Before the adjournment Mr Quilliam indicated that the Rotorua sittings would conclude to-morrow.