NATIONAL WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 277, 22 November 1934, Page 11

NATIONAL WORK.

MAORI LAND SETTLEMENT.

DR. CONDLIFFE IMPRESSED,

(By Telegraph.—£ress Association.)

HASTINGS, Wednesday. "I have been much impressed by the results achieved in farm development schemes for Maoris," said Mr. J. B. Condliffe, of the economic staff of the League of Nations, and formerly professor of economics at Canterbury College, in the course of an interview in Hastings. Mr. Condliffe had had the opportunity ijf seeing the results of this work in the course of his holiday tour through the North Island.

A valuable national work, he said, was being done in winning good farm land from waste areas, and this should mean a permanent economic asset to the Dominion. In a period of low prices and economic depression a great deal had been achieved in keeping large numbers of Maoris from being a charge on unemployment relief, said Mr. Condliffe.

•'*l, was particularly impressed by the brave way the Maoris in the Waika-to were tackling their difficulties under the leadership of Te Puea," continued Mr. Condliffe. "Here was a woman of remarkable personality and distinct administrative ability who had inspired her people to forget grievances of the past and to work hard upon the lands of which they had been dispossessed, but which were now being bought back .fiom the pakeha. 1 also noted the excellent results being obtained 011 the Horahora settlement, near Rotorua."

In reply to a question concerning the financial aspects of developmental schemes, Mr. Condliffe said he had not vet seen the report of the Native AfVaiis Commission. He felt, however, whatevei criticism had been levelled against the Administration, it remained very important, not only for the economic gain of. the whole Dominion, that this work should contiue. "It is of incalculable value," he said. '"The future of their race lies in the possibility of the Maoris developing their remaining ancestral lands."