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74. They should not have been in that position had they been looked after by their own people?—They should not. 75. Who should look after them —their own relatives ?—Their own relatives, I think. 76. Are you prepared to say that the relatives are in a position to look after them ?—I have some specific cases in my mind, but I do not wish to lay down any general principle from those cases. There have been cases in which it is represented that the Natives are neglected by their own relatives, and are therefore left in indigent circumstances, and an urgent appeal made to the Government to provide for them. 77. There are cases where they become destitute through the neglect of their relatives?—Yes. 78. Well, are there other cases?—No doubt there are other cases. 79. Cases where there has been no neglect on the part of relatives ?—Probably there are such cases. 80. Hon. Mr. Shephard.] You think the Relieving Officers might act. You prefer that'the Resident Magistrates should perform the duty; and you think the officers of the Charitable Aid Boards might act ?—The Charitable Aid Boards' work is not connected with the Native Department. Ido not know what machinery they have. Assuming that they have local machinery, Ido not see why the machinery should not be extended to Natives as well as to Europeans. 81. There seems to be a difficulty in the way. The officers of the Charitable Aid Boards would not care to discover cases that they knew would impose a burden on their employers and that they disclaimed any right to bear?—lf the Boards' salaried officers charged themselves with this duty 1 think they might do it. 82. Does it not seem very unlikely that the Board would pay their officers to deal with cases that they held themselves not to be responsible for?—Of course if they took that view of their duties they would fail to look after the destitute Natives. 83. In case this circular were* withdrawn and the Government relieved these cases, do you think the Charitable Aid Boards would allow their officers to look after them ?—The case of destitute Natives requires to be dealt with in some systematic way. At present, particularly in the Middle Island, where there are no local officers, the cases are brought under the notice of the Government in a more or less haphazard way. I mean that some cases may be known and others may not be known. If the Charitable Aid Boards are not to do the work then I certainly think it is desirable that either the Native Department or some other department should be charged with the duty, so that the cases of destitute Natives should be dealt with upon a system. One Native may be living in a state of starvation and receive aid through a neighbour bringing the case under the notice of the Government, and another Native may be in similar circumstances of destitution and the Government not be made aware of it. 84. So long as this circular is held to be in force by the Government any cases of destitution that may be discovered by the officers of a Charitable Aid Board would be held by the Government to be subject to relief to be given by the Board itself: would not that be so ? —Yes, as long as the Charitable Aid Boards are held liable. 85. So long as the Government hold that they are liable the Government would naturally say, These cases that you have discovered you must relieve out of your own funds?—Yes, that is so. 86. In what cases can you conceive that Charitable Aid Boards would employ officers to seek out cases that they hold they are not liable for ? —I do not see that any difference should be made between the case of Natives and that of Europeans. 87. I mean the circular would stand in the way of the Believing Officers, or whatever they are called. So long as that circular is held to apply, the officers would not be permitted to act :is not that so ? —lf I understand your question, you say as long as the Charitable Aid Boards refused to recognise this as their duty. 88. No; I said so long as the Government insist upon Charitable Aid Boards doing this particular work, and they refused, they would not allow their officers to act ?—That is a question for the Charitable Aid Boards. 89. It is a matter of expediency that some authority should deal with the destitute Natives ? — I do not see how I can answer an abstract question. 90. Hon. the Chairman.] We shall now go into the question of hospitals and schools. Would you tell the Committee whether there are any Native hospitals in the Middle Island?—l inquired from the officer in charge of the hospitals as to whether Natives availed themselves of hospitals in the Middle Island. 91. That is not my question. Are there any special Native hospitals in the Middle Island?— No, not that I am aware of. 92. Do the Natives avail themselves of the public hospitals?—Yes; whether to a large or limited extent I cannot say. 93. Is there any restriction against their availing themselves of them ? —None, as I am informed. 94. Do you know whether their wants in respect of hospitals and medical attendance are sufficiently looked after ?—The special Native medical attendance provided in the Middle Island is very small. At the present time there is one Native medical officer in the Canterbury District. 95. Mr. Ormond.] Where ?—At Kaiapoi. His name is Dr. Murray. 96. Where ? —At Kaiapoi. He receives £25 a year. 97. Hon. the Chairman.] Is there any provision for the Natives living south of Kaiapoi—at Akaroa and Little River? —No" special provision. 98. Or at Teinuka, or anywhere in the neighbourhood of Timaru ?—No. 99. Or at W'aikouaiti ?—No, none whatever. 100. Do you know whether there is any prejudice on the part of the Natives against using European hospitals such as renders hospital-accommodation comparatively useless to them ?—I have heard so ; but the Natives do use the hospitals occasionally.