NATIVE AFFAIRS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19836, 27 June 1934, Page 13

NATIVE AFFAIRS

APPOINTMENT NOT CONFIRMED GRIEVANCE RELATED TO COMMISSION

Before the Native Affairs Commission, Mr G. P. Shepherd, chief clerk in the Native Department, continuing his evidence, said that he made repeated protests against the lack of accommodation for the head office, but could get no satisfaction. The Audit Department’s complaints did not refer to the inadequacy of the accommodation, but to matters relating to the field work. Witness had repeatedly asked the Vlinister to inspect the head office, but ne did not do so. His Honour: You say he never dsited the office? Mr Shepherd: Yes, but that was not oeculiar to him. Mr Coates, when he vas Native Minister, did not visit the office except for meetings of the tfative Land Purchase Board. Mr Quilliam: The Minister did not realise the urgency of the staffing question? Mr Shepherd: The Minister stated ‘.hat he was used to dealing with outside organisations and was really impatient with Government methods, considered that the accounting system was too expansive and used to point to stations with which he was connected and show the accounts, saying, “Look how simple they are.” Mr Shepherd said that he put the question of staff to both the Undersecretary and the Minister. but no action was taken. The Minister was always inclined to be economical with the clerical staff. Mr Quilliam: What were his reasons? Mr Shepherd: He slated that Government methods were cumbersome, and also held the view that if the clerical staff was cut down there would oe more money for the schemes. His Honour: Is it not a fact that the staff is paid out of the Consolidated Fund? Mr Shepherd: Yes. The Minister was under misapprehension. I explained the position to the Minister many times, out he thought there was a “nigger in the woodpile.” His Honour: Surely the Minister Knew the position even better than you did? Mr Shepherd said that the Minister thought that the office staff might be charged to the development schemes. Both the Minister and the Cabinet had approved his appointment to the position of director of native land settlement, but the appointment had never been confirmed by the Public Service Commissioner. As a result he was not able to exercise the authority which the position would have conferred upon him. He had endeavoured to obtain the reason from the Commissioner, but had been unable to get an explanation. Mr Shepherd stated in answer to a question that the Minister at one time thought he could appoint his own officers for the land development schemes without reference to the Public Service Commissioner. Mr Quilliam: Do you say he seriously thought he could do that?—Yes. he used to appoint foremen and supervisors. Ultimately he agreed that the power statutorily resided in- the Commissioner. Mr Justice Smith: What does ultimately mean?—Somewhere between 1932 and 1933. Mr Quilliam: You took the precaution to get the appointments recognised by the Public Service Commissioner who merely ratified what the Minister had done?—Yes. Witness was cross-examined at length regarding the conditions of purchase of Kingsbury’s property. Mr Quilliam said that from his examination of the files it appeared that there were very few independent reports as to valuations. In few cases was there any attempt to ascertain the Government valuation There was hardly a reference to inquiries about values or as to who negotiated the purchases. Manures and Presses. In regard to the alleged extravagant purchase of manures Mr Quilliam said: “You are the chief clerk and I want to have an explanation of what appears co be a gross error.” Mr Shepherd: I suggest that you get the officer who actually attended to the matter. He will tell you the whole story. I know that letter after letter went forward to Gisborne. We carried out our instructions and sent the mpnure forward. Mr Justice Smith: Who in the head office said that manures were to go forward? Mr Shepherd: The Minister himself Mr Quilliam: We have evidence about seven hay presses being paid for and not being used at all. Can you give us any information about them?— The Native Minister was interested in the question of hay presses and it was a question between choosing power or horse presses. x He chose horse presses as the Maori loved a mechanical instrument and there were plenty of horses available. And you know the result is that £360 has been wasted? —I am not prepared to agree to that. Witness admitted that he had felt unhappy about the position for 12 months at least. Not Constitutional. Mr Quilliam: Do you realise that in 1932 the Audit Department was complaining - and matters were not being put right?—Yes. The Minister was still exercising administrative powers?—Yes. The Minister did exercise administrative functions. I thought it was not quite constitutional, but the Native Minister was peculiarly suited to do a lot of things he was doing. He had such standing among the Natives and he could do so many things that could not be done in other Departments. You would have to accept the position if the Minister assumed these functions. You could do no more?— That is so. Mr Findlay: Not only was the Native Minister peculiarly suited to do Native work, but he was resolutely determined , to make the whole thing a success? He approached it with great resolution and industry, he was impatient of socalled “red tape” restraints that were tramelline - his actions? —Yes. Mr Quilliam: Did you ever get any voluntary assistance from the Treasury or the Public Service Commissioner in overcoming the Department's troubles? No. thev did nothing.