WARM DENIAL OF EXTRAVAGANCE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 365, 29 October 1932, Page 5

WARM DENIAL OF EXTRAVAGANCE

("Post" Special Commissioner).

NATIVE AFFAIRS iMINISTER SAYS COMMISSION'S STATEMENTS NOT JUSTIFIED LAND DEVELOPMENT

Wellington, Friday. A description of tlie results of the policy iof self-treliance prosecuted by the Maoris, was given in the House of Representatives last night by the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata, Minister of Natlve Affairs, in the course of an emphatic denial of the charges of extravagance levelled at the adminiistration of the Native Affairs Department by the National Expenditure Couimission. The Minister said that members, from a perusal of the report, might have gained the impression that there had been extravagance and waste in the administration of native affairs and whether or not they were sins of his predecessors, going back 30 or 40 years, he had to take his full share of the responsibility for what had happened during his term of office. No Extravagance "This ' charge of extravagance is one I absolutely deny in connection with the development of native lands," said the Minister.

"As far as the treatment of the problem was concerned, there were some things which could not await a passage of legislation or the making of fine financial adjustments. In the

winter of 1930, when timber work Sir A. Ngata haci finished and public works, including road making had tailed off and local bodies were no longer in a position to assist the natives regarding road work, th'e northern Maori tribes who were the most independent and the greatest exponents of the policy of self-reliance in New Zealand, were unable to have their lands rated for roading purposes but offered their labour to do the work at half the usual rates of pay. By that means, the roads were construeted through the native land. Sir Apirana pointed out with emphasis, that up to 1929, r the money expended on native land was tlie money of the Maoris themselves. Not one penny piece had coxne from the Pakeha taxpayer.

The first contribution was furnished by legislation of 1929 and up to March 31, 1930, th'e total expenditure of such funds on the native land development, was £6500 — "A sum of £6500 in 100 years," commented the Minister. "How much has the Pakeha had in that time? "For example, we can talce the State Advances Department alone." Ngapuhi Lands Continuing, he said that in 1931, under pressure of unemployment and distress, the Ngapuhis asked that the development of their land be undertaken. The total expenditure from June 1$30 to March 31 last, was £48,000. By the end of the current year, it was estimated that the total number to have heen assisted would be about 600. "I deny absolutely, the charge of extravagance as far as the Ngapuhi tribe is concerned," said the Minister with! some warmth. "They would take no money for their labour until unemployment came along." Of the £48,000 mentioned, £45,000 was represented by stock, wire, staples, posts, in some cases, dairying utensils and materials generally. There was a large area in properly cultivated grass, the Treasury security being represented by 25,000 aeres in fair to good grass, fenced and subdivided. • Maori Farmers The Maori was not as "flash" a farmer as the Pakeha. With the latter's experience and resources, etc., the native said "all right, the Pakeha is the better man. We have just crawled out of the swamp and the raupo hut a little while ago." Tlie Maoris' standard was lower and he was taking advantage of it in these times of depression to solve the problem in his own way and he was being inspired to the fullest extent to make use of his advantages. The Minister disclosed that up to March 31 last, the natives had heen able to pay back over £6000 which represented a return of 12i per cent, notwithstanding the low prices of butter, fat and the high' prices charged for eattle in the first year.