PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 23378, 22 September 1939, Page 11

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 22. The House met at 10.30 a.in. Two minor amendments to the Meat Bill made by the Legislative Council were approved, and the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill was read a second time, little discussion taking place ou either measure. The latter was put through all stages and passed. Discussing the Native Purposes Bill in committee, the Acting Leader of the House, Mr Fraser, said he had been rather surprised that on the second reading the member for Eastern Maori, Sir A. Ngata, had indicated that ho knew where waste was going on in connection with the Native Department administration, but as it was pakeha money it did not matter and they would not draw attention to it. Mr Fraser said it was the duty’ of everyone to point out waste if he saw it, so that it could be stopped, and possibly Sir Aparina Ngata had not meant fully what he had said. Mr Poison said he knew of a certain amount of waste going on, but as it was not in his district he did not like to interfere. He would be glad to give the Native Minister information on the subject. Sir A. Ngata stated he would not take back anything he had said, and ho would go into specific cases with the acting Native Minister. He also urged that it was necessary to deal with the position of the Maori in the Public Service. Mr Fraser: We want that.

Sir Apirana, continuing, said that as far as pakeha money was concerned there seemed to be an assumption that unemployment funds spent on Maoris constituted something of a gratuity from the pakeha, but if the Maori was only getting what he was entitled to, there should not be so much crowing about it. There was an element of patronage about the whole thing, and he would remind the House there was such a thing as racial pride. The whole housing policy of the Native Department should be investigated. _ There was waste in this connection in regard to material and high costs. The Acting Minister of Native Affairs Mr Langstone, said he would be glad of Sir Apirana’s co-operation in investigating the matter, and Mr Fraser gave an assurance that the question of -Native housing would be thoroughly investigated by the Minister. The Bill was put through all stages and passed. The wages Protection and Contractors’ Lions Bill, add also the Patents Designs and Trademarks Amendment •Bill were committed and the House adjourned for luncheon at 1 p.m.