MAORIS IN NORTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 264, 7 November 1932, Page 9

MAORIS IN NORTH.

POPULATION INCREASE.

LAND SETTLEMENT PROGRESS.

EXAMPLE OF SELF-HELP.

(By Telegraph;— Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day,

Interesting questions concerning the future of the Maori race in the North Auckland district were raised by the Native Minister, Sir Apirana Ngata, in an interview, when discussing the work which has been done in the settlement of Maoris on the land.

The native population of the North Auckland district, which, at the census of 1926, was 15,227, was estimated at April 1 of this year, to be 10,080. If the Eden county, with the city and boroughs in its administrative area, were included, the population, which was 10,188 in 1920, increased to 17,79U at the beginning of, this financial year. "When the Maori population was declining a generation and a half ago, policies which were adapted to a condition Of depopulation appeared reasonable, if deplorable," said the. Minister. "The loss of ancestral land , might be offset by a corresponding decline in the numbers of the race, who depended for their-maintenance on the revenue from those lands, or by an appreciation in the value of the reduced rfrea.

"The marked increase in the Maori population, now definitely established by the Statistics Office, is a new factor that confronts not only the administrator of native affairs, but also those who administer the social services of the country, particularly health and education. What course should policy take to avoid the expansion of an element popularly reputed to be inefficient, and yet regarded by popular sentiment as the ward of the State? The Maori has yet to prove, that apart from land, he can fit into the increasingly difficult and complex economy of a young and virile Western community. To the extent that he will draw sustenance from his own land, so will he reduce the difficulties to the guardian State?" Doing Everything Themselves. The way in which the Maoris of North Auckland have been. assisting themselves, although facing great difficulties, was the subject of eulogistic comment by the.Minister. Sir Apirana eaid that a feature of native land settlement and development. throughout the North Auckland' region' which was of prime importance in any consideration of the present and future prospects of Maori farming, and of the risks of loan funds involved was the extent of eelf-help which prevailed. It was far beyond what, obtained in any district among 'any other native community. Until the spring of 1931, when it was feared that the depression would compel many settlers to neglect their farms and to seek sustenance for themselves and their families on relief works, the development account was not called upon to provide wages in connection with any development work. Assistance : was limited to the supply of'seed, -Wire and staples, fertilisers, dairy cattle and utensils, building materials and the discharge of liabilities secured on stock or equipment. The northern tribesmen cleared the bush or scrub, ploughed and cultivated, split posts and battens, erected new fences or repaired existing fences, sowed the seed and applied fertilisers, and built their own cottages and cowsheds with their own labour.

"Nowhere was there eo much co-opera-tion among individuals and families, eo great a determination to reduce to a minimum the call on outside capital, or to suffer the inconvenience of .poor housing or indifferent. equipment," said the Minister. "The northern tribes describe this characteristic by saying that they work for one meal a day and themselves provide even that."

Policy Bearing Fruit. c The bold Maori land settlement policy j which was instituted in North Auckland ( by the Minister four years ago, is now < bearing fruit, and is proving of great j assistance in tiding the natives of the i district through tlie present- difficult j times. The total, expenditure at the end , of the year was £46,119, and the Native j Land Settlement Account was more than , secured for this outlay by 24,877 acres t of fair to good pasture, 20,000 acres of unimproved land, with buildings and fences on the improved lands, and 5800 ( cows in milk, not to mention younger cattle and bulls, and the utensils and equipment of a large number of dairy farms. The assisted Maoris were supplying cream to 14 factories, and their repayments on account of advances amounted, by the end of March, -o £6373, representing 124 per cent on the whole outlay. As only £1900 interest came to charge during the period, a substantial part of the repayments was credited to principal. In 1930-31, 2102 acres were grassed, and last year an additional 5780 acres were grassed. The number of dairy cattle bought in the two seasons totalled 3412, making the total, with the stock which the Maoris brought with them into the scheme and which became security, with the result of the development loans, 5823 head, without counting yearlings and calves. Grass-seed amountto 237,4371b hag been sown.