NATIVE MINISTER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19941, 27 October 1934, Page 12

NATIVE MINISTER

RESIGNATION SAID TO BE PENDING

COLLEAGUES SILENT

(Prom Our Parliamentary Reporter)

WELLINGTON. October 26. While none of the principals will make any comment, there are good grounds for predicting that the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata will tender in the next few days his resignation as Native Minister. He is almost bound to be replaced in the Coalition Cabinet by Mr S. G. Smith, who held the portfolio of Labour in the United Government, and who was the author of the original Unemployment Act. Mr Forbes gave a direct denial tonight to a suggestion that he had received Sir Apirana Ngata’s resignation, but It is understood that the Native Minister is deliberately withholding this until the report of the Native Affairs Commission is presented next week.

When the first complaints were received from the Auditor and Control-ler-General concerning the administration of the Native Land Settlement Schemes Sir Apirana Ngata immediately volunteered his resignation to Mr Forbes, but the Prime Minister refused to accept it until an inquiry was held. A Royal Commission was set up about eight months ago. and after extensive travelling in the North Island has now completed its report which has been presented to the Governor-General and is now in possession of the Government. The document is being printed, and the general belief is that it will contain criticism adverse to the administration of Sir Apirana Ngata.

Within the last few weeks there has been adverse comment in the House on the fact that the House had been asked to vote funds for native purposes before it was in possession of the Commission’s report, and in facing this criticism Sir Apirana Ngata has not given evidence of any feeling, but has made it clear that the delay in presenting the report cannot be laid at his door.

To describe the position of Sir Apirana and the Native race generally as delicate would not be going too far. There is no denying the fact that in the last four years Sir Apirana has brought a new spirit into his people, and that to-day he is the undoubted leader of the Maori population. There was plenty of evidence of this when the complaints were first lodged, the Maoris making it clear that they intended to stand behind their Parliamentary leader. It was only by the use of his wide influence and the loyal co-operation he received from Mr Taite Te Tomo and Mr Tau Henare that a difficult situation was avoided. With the possibility of serious criticism and the likelihood of Sir Apirana presenting his resignation within the next few days, a similar situation is expected to arise, but it is believed that no matter what is done Sir Apirana will use his best efforts to maintain the existing good relationships between the Maori race and the Government of the Dominion. Cabinet Reconstruction. The fact of one Minister resigning opens up anew the widely expressed desire for Cabinet reconstruction. Today two Ministers, the Hon. Adam Hamilton and the Hon. E. A. Ransom, are not physically fit to carry out theii duties, and are being relieved. Mr Hamilton has returned to Wellington and has taken his seat in the House, but has not resumed his Ministerial duties. Mr Ransom is in hospital, where he underwent an operation, and it is not likely that he will be back this session. With only seven Ministers available it will not be possible to carry on the intricate work of Government, and a reconstruction and redistribution of portfolios seems to be imminent. However, nothing beyond Sir Apirana Ngata’s resignation seems certain, and this in itself will probably mean some reshuffling of Ministerial work. Mr Coates is expected to take over Native Affairs as he is the Minister, apart from Sir Apirana, who knows most of the Maori race, its requirements and its handling, and it is thought that he could meet the delicate situation which is almost bound to arise. If he took over control of the Native Department, he would have to drop some of his present duties, and Customs and Transport are two which could easily be given up. The retention of Finance in conjunction with Native Affairs would give Mr Coates full control over European and Maori undertakings, w'hile with the passing of the Customs Act tariff difficulties have been settled for some time. It has been suggested that Mr J. N. Massey should be Native Minister, but to do this would require the appointment of at least two more Ministers from the United section of the Coalition, and although Mr Massey has influential support for his claims for preferment, it is generally recognised that Mr Coates has a deeper knowledge of the natives than has the sor of the former Prime Minister.