INEXPERIENCED.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14341, 10 July 1914, Page 3

INEXPERIENCED.

MAORI MEMBER? ON THE MINISTRY. NATIVE LAND ACT RIDICULED,

(By Telegraph.—Special to Hratyrm.) WELLINGTON, July 9.

The member for Southern Maori was severe in his criticism on the Native Minister and his Native Land Act, and was cvusliiugly severe on the lion. Dr. Pomare when speaking in the House this afternoon. Discussing the Hon. Mr Henries, he said, “What does he really know about native affairs. A. man comes from England, farms a little bit, and then noses as a native affairs expert. Has ho . ever conducted a ease before the Native Land Court? What docs he know of the doings of tho Native Department? 11 p leaves Home and becomes a Maori king in this House, yet. lie knows no more about the natives or native land transactions than do my boots. (Opposition apnlause and laughter.) Continuing, Mr Parata added: “The Act lie passed has been working twelve months, and it is going to swamp the department. Why all the little offi co hoys in the department are laughing at it. It is going to cost his office JHOOO a- year. That is what comes of putting a man to be. Native Minister who knows nothing about the practical side of native oaffirs, and as to his henohman," said the member in a voice vibrant with contempt, “he certainly knows nothing. He is nothing but a cub so far as native affairs are concerned. I challenge the honourable gentleman to say what experience he has had in Native Land Courts. He may know a little about Smallpox (laughter), but whatever little he knows he came here in cause on the vote of liberal Maoris, and as an elected Liberal he has dishonoured his vote.”

Mr Speaker called the member to order whereupon he contended that the natives, who had voted for Hr. Pomare, had been practically disfranchised. “His vote here is a dishonourable vote,” exclaimed Mr Parata and was promptly ruled out of order again.

The ' member, after further caustic criticism of the Minister representing the native race on the executive concluded: “Cut when next November comes, he will, in common with bis present political friends, be relegated surely to tho dust beaus ” (Laughter and Opposition applause.) - A MINISTERIAL REPLY. Tho Hon. Dr. Pomare, who followed, demanded what had the Government, which Mr Parata-’s father had followed faithfully for twenty-two years, done for the native race, and added the Minister, “the honourable gentleman’s Government passed a Bill in 1893, which alienated 190,000 acres of Maori land for all time. I was asked by the natives, who had been divested of their lands, not to support Sir James Carroll or his colleagues, but to right the wrongs that had been done to them by the Liberal Government. (Government applause.) I would advise the honourable gentleman who talked about me to the Ward administration to ask the Mackenie administration what they thought about me.”

Opposition members: “Give it ’him yourself.”

The Minister ignoring the. invitation demanded who,-if l;c were, supposed to support the Libera! administration, did tho Ministers of that Government send out telegrams wholesale, telling the Maoris to vote against PonT.irc. (Government laughter.)