N.Z. PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1933, Page 6

N.Z. PARLIAMENT

MAORI AFFAIRS

DEBATE ON REPORT

Members had referred to a previous Complaint bv the Auditor-General regarding Maori land settement, and bad alleged that nothing had done to meet the position. Air Forbes said the Native Land Settlement Board had been, set up specifically -to meet .this position and he had been under the impression that the Board had been carrying out the duties imposed on it by Parliament.

‘To-night I am one of the prisoners the liar” said Sir A. G. Ngata.

‘‘l propose to speak for a few minutes not so much as the Minister re-» sponsible for the Department which is under review, but as one of the Maoris of New Zealand. What has given us the most concern at this time is the attitude of the towards- Maoris. There have been many misunderstandings. A lot depends on the debate to-nght. We were anxious to be assured whether we had the goodwill of the Pakelia of New

Zealand or not.” AiLabour member: “That was neve

in question.” Wir A. G. Ngata : “Maoris must take there own cue from the tone of this djiambcr to-night. If the tone liiad: not been in keeping with the attitude which had always been taken up towards the Maori race, a lot of queer tilings would have happened in the next few months.” “1 want to thank the House for its. consideration and also fpr the, tone of the debate to-night,” lie said. “It will mean a good deal to men and women outside.”

Air Lang,stone assured the Alinister that there never had been any ques-

tion of feeling between Pakelia and Maori during the debate or any feel-

ing that the Alinister was less efficient

because he was a Maori.. There is no

abler or more competent man in the Government./’ lie said. “In fact the genius of the present Government is the Native Alinister.” The- report was formally laid on the table. Tile "House rose to 4.20 a.m.

fPer Press Association — Copyright.) WELLINGTON, December 15. , The Legislative Council yesterday passed the Companies Bill, <if.'aac 1 Arrangement '(New Zealand and Bei- ; giuni) Ratification Bill; Immigration ' Restriction Bill; and Trustees Amend- ( meat Bill. In the House Representatives the Mortgagors and Tenants Relief Bill and Rating Amendment Bill were introduced and read a first time. | Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston North) , presented a report of the public accounts committee in reference to the charge made in the Controller and Auditor General’s report. The committee said the report mistakenly created a feeling in the minds of those not well versed in public finance, that the financial administration was at fault. The committee was of the opinion that the public accounts represented a true and correct position financial administration of the Dominion and it is felt, that efforts should be made by the Departments concerned to reach an agreement as to accountancy practice to be adopted. In reference to the native land settlement administration, the committee reported in view of the great oxpanson of its activities especially in the execution of the policy of developing native land, that the administrative machinery of the Native Department had not been sufficient to keep pace therewith, or to establish efficient control over the details of expenditure, and in view of the great importance to the Maori race ana to the Dominion, of the maintenance of a policy of assisting Maoris to develop and farm their lands, and the danger that may arise at this juncture from misunderstandings, the committee recommended the commission to be appointed, to investigate not only matters arising out of the report of the Auditor-General but also the whole of the administration of native affairs, especially in regard to the development of native land and administration of estates of Maori people! Discussing the report, Mr Sullivan (Avon), said everybody realised the great effort the Minister had been making to educate his people in productive methods of the Pakeha, and it was desirable that the work should be carried on, but it was also in the interests of the natives themselves and the Dominion as a whole that” work should proceed, with the undesirable features that had emerged during the discussion- eliminated. The statement' made by the Auditor-General had been a very grave one, as he' " had found himself in the position of making the same reportAw- two years in succession.,' Apparently va-JlOLthing had been done to rectify the position. Mr W. J. Broadfoot • (Waitomo)

Raid as one who had lived all Ilia life in native territory, he could pay a tribute to the. success of the Native Minister in his land development

schemes, which had been the first genuine practical attempt to solve outstanding problems and differences between Maori and Pakeha. When a a full inquiry was made it. would he found that the operations of . the Department would compare more than favourably with those of any other Department in the State service. The Hon. G. W. Forbes said he thought the recommendation to set up a commission was a good one.