MR. DINNIE'S APPOINTMENT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 866, 12 July 1910, Page 6

MR. DINNIE'S APPOINTMENT.

OFFICIAL EXPLANATIONS. The appointment of Mr. W. Dinnie, exCominissiouer of Police, to be chairman of tho Maori Land Board was defended by the Hon. James Carroll, Native Minister, in an interview given to the press yesterday. Mr. Carroll stated that a vacancy had occurred, and it had been decided to appoint Mr. Dinnie. Tho training of that' gentleman in his past official capacity, which was of no mean order, had been to sift, examine, and weigh evidence, and to take just action thereupon. The Native land legislation of today had been framed on _ clearly-defined lines. The president's main duties were to consider aud give effect to dealings in land between Natives and Europeans. It was also his duty to seo that tho terms were fair. The valuations were provided by the Government, aud for the president's guidance the law directed that tho rent in respect' to leases was not to bo less thnn five per cent, of the capital value, and in respect of sales, not less tlinn the Government valuation of the land. "Furthermore," said the Minister,

"the lands are classified in accordance with the values into first, second, and third class, aiid the limitations under each class are clearly set forth. Mr. Dinnie was one who entered upon his duties with a- fair and open mind, without any unconscious bins, which sometimes arose from long familiarity with Native land transactions, and a close contact with the several interests involved on one side or the other. If Mr. Dinnie is in fair possession of practical commonsense, and a will to achieve practical results, I see no reason why ho should not give satisfaction. At any rate, we will soon see how he gets on. Until this, I do not think any pre-judgment is warrantable."

The Prime Minister, when questioned on the subject, said that "some suitable man had to bo selected for the position, the chief qualifications for which were a knowledgo of law and integrity and honesty on the part of tho proposed appointee. All these qualifications Mr. Dinnie possessed. In the recent inquiry of the Police Commission, there was nothing against his personal honour in any way. The Government recognised that as Mr. Dinnie had the requisite qualifications, und was a man of undoubted integrity, and one who had personally done nothing wrong as Police Commissioner, his case deserved full consideration for suitable appointment if one presented itself. It had to be remembered that this was not a found position, and that it Mr. Dinnie was not appointed some other person would have to be appointed and receive the same salary— £iW a year. Sir Joseph Ward added that it seemed to be becoming quite fashionable for soma of the opponents of the Government to attempt to prejudice anything done, quite irrespective of (lie merits of tho man or the necessity for making the appointments. As to tho legality, anyone who could suggest any illegality about the appointmont must bo doing it for tho purpose of creating a wrong impression. The appointment was absolutely legal. If it were not, Mr. Dinnie could not receive the salary attached to the position, and it would scarcely bo suggested that ho would accept the position unless he could be legally appointed, with payment for tho services Uβ would render.

Tho suggestion, refuted by the PrimeMinister, that Mr. Dinnio's appointment is illegal, is understood to be based on Section i of the Civil Service Act, 1908, which states that "every person appointed to the Civil Service of New Zealand shall only enter such service as a cadet after competitive examination," with the exception of "experts" and persons temporarily appointed, and some others. It is argued that though Mr. Dinnie was an "expert" for tho purposes of his polico appointment, he is certainly not an "expert" in regard to Native affairs. The answer to theso contentions is understood to bo that Air. Dinnie.'s new position is not included in tho "Civil" Service, although it forms a part of the "Public" Service. There is a distinction between tho terms.