William Sim facts for kids
Sir William Alexander Sim (born September 13, 1858 – died August 29, 1928) was an important lawyer and judge in New Zealand.
He was born in a place called Wanganui in New Zealand and later passed away in Wellington. His son was named Wilfrid Sim. In 1924, Sir William Sim was given a special honor and became a Knight Bachelor during the King's Birthday Honours.
What Was the Sim Commission?
In 1926, Sir William Sim was chosen to lead a special group called a royal commission. This group was asked to look into some very important issues from the 1800s. Specifically, they investigated how Māori land was taken by the government, known as "confiscations," and other complaints Māori people had. This group became known as the Sim Commission.
Sir William worked with two other people on the commission: Vernon Herbert Reed and William Cooper.
What Did the Sim Commission Investigate?
The Sim Commission had four main areas to investigate and report on:
- Did the government take too much land? They looked at whether the amount of land taken was fair and just. This included land taken as punishment for rebellion or for setting up new settlements.
- Should some lands have been left alone? They checked if any land that was taken should have been excluded for a special reason.
- Who should get paid? They needed to figure out which Māori people, families, or groups had a right to get money because their land was taken.
- Were the reserves enough? They looked at whether the land or other support given to Māori tribes later on was enough for them to live on.
The commission finished its work and gave its report to the government in 1928.
See also
- The 1908 Blackball miners' strike
