NATIVE LANDS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9630, 23 October 1909, Page 7

NATIVE LANDS.

COST OF THE COMMISSION.

The Prime Minister was recently asked by Mr Okey if it is a fact that Sir Robert Stout, as chairman of the Native Lands Commission, has received £1,286 honorarium and £SBO traveling expenses, in addtion to his salary jf £2,000 a year and travelling expenses as Chief Justice The Prime Minister's reply was as follows: "Special reasons existed for the appointment of the Chief Justice as chairman of the Native Lands Commission, and any assumption that the work could have been done as efficiently for a smaller sum is totally unfounded. The Chief Justice could not be called upon to do the work as it was entirely outside his official functions. The country had the advantage of his judicial office and very special knowledge of native customs and native legislation. Further, the confidence which the people, both European and native, have always felt in Sir Robert Stout pointed him out as the most suitable for this class of work. The work was done under great pressure and with extraordinary industry, and consequently within a shorter time than any other man, even probably with the qualifications of the Chief Justice, could have done it. The arrangement made with the Chief Justice as regards remuneration was theibest that could be obtained, and an impartial survey of the work done, is of great importance to New Zealand, the relations of harmony which have been left between the native people and the Europeans, has placed beyond question the assumption that the work done "by Sir Robert Stout could have been done more efficiently, more expeditiously, or more economically than it was done.'"