Mr Coates's Defence.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20456, 8 November 1934, Page 6

Mr Coates's Defence.

Case Made Out

Replies to Mr Savage on Native Affairs.

(“ Star ” Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, This Day. ADMITTING that each member of the Government was responsible, as Mr Savage had alleged, Mr Coates, when speaking last night on the report of the Native Affairs Commission, declared that although that was true, a case could be made out for the Government.

Mr Coates said he took no exception to the tone of Mr Savage's amendment, in which the Leader of the Opposition placed the responsibility on the Government for administration of the Native Department, but it was necessary to examine the position to ascertain* what steps had been taken by the Government, when complaints were received, to investigate and rectify the position. On Each Occasion.

Action had been taken by the Government on each occasion a report was received from the Auditor-General or the Treasury, indicating where there was weakness. It was on his own motion that the Public Accounts Committee passed the motion recommending the setting up of a Royal Commission, for the committee was not even satisfied with the report of the Auditor-General.

“ Apart from any other consideration, apart from the feeling one has for the Maori race, for the ex-Native Minister or for anyone else, I am not going to try and find excuses,” said Mr Coates. “ I am prepared to say this: The Government can only be accused of neglect of duty when it can be proved that action was not taken immediately reports were received.”

The Auditor-General had already cleared the Government of any implications or any strictures contained in the Commission’s report. Mr Coates recalled that the National Expenditure Commission had gone fully into the affairs of the Native Department. when it had overhauled this and all other departments. Expeditious Action.

Tie doubted whether any Government had ever taken any more concise and expeditious action than had been taken by the Coalition at that time. The National Expenditure Commission had sat in 1932, and in the same year a large number of Native Department appropriations were taken from legislation and put on the esti mates so that they came under annual review'. Appropriations under the Native Land Settlement Acts were dealt with in the same way, Steps then were taken by the Treasury and the Auditor-General for better control of the money, and legislation was passed the following year, the Native Purposes Act was amended, and the same year the Native Land Settlement Board was set up. There was a chronological sequence of action. The Point. Mr Coates referred to the historical summary covering the Government’s actions through these years, when Mr M’Keen (Wellington South) interjected with the remark that he was not dealing with the Commission's report. “ That, is not the point.” replied Mr Coates. “The point is what action did the Government take on each report received by it. If it can be shown that the Government has been neglectful in any matter at all after information had been received by it. then the position would be very serious. Does the Commission’s report place any strictures at all on the Government?” Mr Semple (Wellington East) : It does on you. Mr Coates: Yes. I will take all that when I come to it. and you may come into mv electorate and take a shot at putting me opt.