NATIVE AFFAIRS INQUIRY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20361, 19 July 1934, Page 16

NATIVE AFFAIRS INQUIRY.

Complaint Against Minister’s Policy. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 18. Public proceedings in the Native affairs inquiry began again in Wellington to-day, when counsels’ addresses were opened by Mr R. H. Quilliam, who was appointed by the Government to assist the Commission in a broad survey of the evidence. He laid a complaint against the Native Minister (Sir Apirana Ngata) of having carried on with land development work for the Maoris without adequate planning and stocktaking. For this, as in certain other aspects of the department’s administration, counsel submitted that the wide personal control which the Minister exercised left him with full responsibility. It was further suggested that he had rushed through with the development schemes with the object of committing the country to as much expenditure as possible so that they would have to be continued. Mr Quilliam’s address had not been completed when the Commission adjourned until to-morrow morning. Mr G. P. Finlay, who is appearing on behalf of the Native race, has yet to make his submissions.