WASTE ALLEGED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20050, 23 September 1939, Page 14

WASTE ALLEGED

MAORI HOUSING WORK SIR A. NGATA’S CHARGE INQUIRY PROMISED DISCUSSION IN HOUSE (Pftr Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Two minor amendments to the MeatBill made by the Legislative Council were approved by the House of Representatives yesterday. The Reserves and Other Lanria Disposal Bill was put through a;l stages and passed.

Discussing the Native Purposes Bill in committee, the acting-Pri.me Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, said lie had been rather surprised that on the second reading the member for Eastern Maori, Sir Apirana Ngata had indicated that he knew where waste was going on in connection with Native (Department administration, but as it was European 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 lie saw it so that it could be stopped and possibly Sir Apirana Ngata had not meant fully what he had said.

Mr. W. J. Poison (Nat., Stratford) said he knew of a certain amount of waste going on, but as it was not in bis district he did not like to interfere. He .would be glad to give the Native Minister information on the subject “No Need for Crowing” Sir Apirana Ngata stated that he would not take back anything he had said, and he would go into specific cases with the acting-Native Minister. He also urged that it was necessary to deal with the position of Maoris in the public service. Mr. Fraser: We want that. Sir Apirana Ngata, continuing, said that as far ns European money was concerned there seemed to be an assumption that the unemployment funds spent on Maoris something of a gratuity from the Europeans, 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 tiling, 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, the lion. F. Langstone said he would be glad of Sir Apirana Ngata’s co-operation in investigating the matter and Mr. Fraser gave an assurance that the question of native housing would be thoroughly investigated by flic Minister. The bill was put through all stages and passed. The Wages Protection and Contractors’ Liens Bill and also the Patents Designs and Trade Marks Amendment Bill were committed and the House adjourned for luncheon at 1 p.m.