NATIVE MINISTER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19945, 1 November 1934, Page 13

NATIVE MINISTER

RESIGNATION IS ACCEPTED

STATEMENT BY MR FORBES By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, October 31. When the report of the Native Affairs Commission was presented in the House this evening the following statement was made by the Prime Minister, fit. Hon. G. W. Forbes: — In connection with the presentation of the report of the Commission on Native Affairs, I should like to make a short Ministerial statement to the House. It will be remembered that the Commission was set up in pursuance of a promise. I gave to the House on behalf of the Government last session. The Commission has carried out a full investigation of the matters brought before it, and has made valuable suggestions in connection with Native land settlement including improvements in administrative control and in the safeguarding of expenditure. In a consideration of the report it should not be overlooked that the transactions and other matters that have called for criticism occurred under legislation and an arrangement of departments that no longer exist. The legislation passed in 1932 and 1933 not only curtailed the previous wide powers vested in the Native Minister, but also effected important changes on the administrative as well as the executive side of Native affairs. For example, the financial operations of the Maori Land Boards ■are now largely subject to the control of the Native Land Settlement Board and the functions of the Native Trustee and the Under-Secretary for Native Affairs are concentrated in one officer who is now subject to the Public Service Commissioner.

Tribute to Minister. The Commission pays ungrudging tribute to the whole-hearted desire and enthusiasm of the Native Minister to establish his people on the land, and the value of this policy is referred to by the Commission in the following paragraph (249) of the report:— “There is no doubt also that the various development schemes have made for the physical improvement of the natives affected by them. The natives have undoubtedly benefited by the provision of sustained work on the large development schemes, by the provision of assistance to units of farms' and by the inspiration of hope which the schemes have induced. Child welfare has been definitely advanced and the native population has continued to increase. If the development schemes succeeci the Maori units will become

settled on developed farm lands in permanent homes, and it is clear that in such circumstances their physical, mental and moral improvement is likely to continue. Such benefits are of great human as well as industrial worth. They are worth striving for and they need no special commendation from us.” Valuable Recommendations. There is no need for any discouragement on the part of the Maori people nor any fear that the policy of native land development will be abandoned by the Government. Valuable recommendations are contained in the report as to legislation with a view to improving the future administration in respect of which legislative measures will be necessary. Generally speaking these recommendations have for their object the improvement of the legal machinery for operating the State development schemes, the limiting of the Native Trustee to the functions of an investment trustee, enabling the Native Land Settlement Board to control and supervise all farming operations carried on following development under the State development schemes, setting limits on the Maori Land Board's expenditure on farming operations, validating certain beneficial and judicious —though unauthorised —acts of the Native Minister and the Native Land Settlement Board, reorganisation of the Native Land Settlement Board, making more effective the machinery for the collection of rates on Native land, improvements in the management of the Maori Purposes Fund and redrawing and clarifying the powers of certain trust boards. All these recommendations are at present under the consideration of the Government, and it is intended that measures will be submitted to the House at an early date. Letter of Resignation. As a result of the- Commission’s report, the Minister of Native Affairs (the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata) has seen fit to tender his resignation of the ministerial offices held by him and also of his membership of the Executive Council. His resignation has this day been accepted by His Excellency the Governor-General. Sir Apirana Ngata’s letter of resignation is in the followingterms: — “Wellington, October 29. 1934. "Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, Prime Minister, Wellington. “Dear Sir, —I hereby tender my resignation as Native Minister and Minister of the Cook Islands and as a member of the Executive Council representing the Native race. In doing so I desire to thank you and my colleagues in the ministry for the consideration and courtesy that have always been extended to myself, and especially for the goodwill consistently manifested towards the Maori people. “I shall be glad to tender all assistance I can as one of the Maori members to the Government and the country to prevent any misunderstandings arising and to make smooth the administration of Native Affairs. “Yours sincerely. (Sgd.) A. T. Ngata.”

Offer of Co-operation Appreciated. Members will appreciate as warmly as I do so Sir Apirana Ngata’s intention, notwithstanding his retirement from the ministry, to continue as a private member his valuable co-opera-tion with the Government in the administration of Native affairs and in the preservation of the existing harmonious relationships between the two races.

I desire to announce to the House that the two ministerial offices thus rendered vacant, namely Native Minister and Minister of the Cook Islands, will now be assumed by the Prime Minister.