ALLEGED WASTE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 September 1939, Page 9

ALLEGED WASTE

EXPENDITURE ON BEHALF OF MAORI PEOPLE. SPECIFIC CASES TO BE INVESTIGATED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. An allegation that there was waste in the administration of Native affairs and that an element of patronage was associated with expenditure on behalf of the Maori people was made by Sir Apirana Ngata (Opposition, Eastern Maori) during consideration of the Native Purposes Bill in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Act-ing-Prime Minister, Mi- Fraser, and the Native Minister, Mr Langstone, both said that any specific cases submitted by Sir Apirana Ngata would be immediately investigated. During the Committee stage of the Bill, Mr Fraser said he had been rather surprised to hear Sir Apirana Ngata indicate on the second reading that he knew where waste was going, on in connection with the Native Department’s administration, but that as it was pakeha money it did not matter and he would not draw attention to it. “It is the duty of everyone to point out waste if he sees it so that it can be stopped ” said Mr Fraser. “Possibly the member for' Eastern Maori has not meant fully what he said.” Sir Apirana Ngata said he would not take back anything he had said. However, he would certainly go into specific cases with the Native Minister, and if necessary deal also with the position of Maoris in the Public Service. Mr Fraser: “We want that.”