Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1950 NEW RUATOKI INDUSTRY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 96, 10 February 1950, Page 4

Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1950

NEW RUATOKI INDUSTRY

TKere are now definite signs that the rumour that has persisted for some time that a large concern jilates the establishment of a clothing factory at Ruatoki has arisen from the preliminary discussion of a very real ; intention.

If the plan which is now in its tentative stages is carried out, its implementation will confer very real benefits on the whole of this district, and on the Maori people of Ruatoki in particular.

In a way, Ruatoki has been something of a problem child in this area. Fairly closely settled, more or less isolated and with until recently little scope for those of its sons and daughters who wanted to stay near home.

There has been considerable farming development in the area lately, and that has used a lot of labour in constructive employment, but still there needs to be more of an outlet for the talents of those youngsters who have no particular interest in farming and who want more out of life than the monotdny and mental inactivity of casual labour. The clothing factory plan might be an answer. Though many have shown a marked aptitude for it, farming is perhaps not the occupation best suited to the Maori’s natural talents, and many of the younger people are not satisfied to take up jobs on farms as their life’s ,work. Quite rightly, if their own district seems to have nothing to their liking to offer, they seek further afield for work where they can use their education and ambition to advantage.

Experience of Maoris in the cities has proved that they can adapt themselves well to many callings, but that in quite the majority of cases they do not adapt themselves well to city life. It is not a natural way of life for anyone, but the Pakeha, often with generations of citydwellers in his pedigree, generally stands it better than the Maori who has still a ed love of the open spaces and can usually never be truly happy living under completely artificial conditions.

Development of industries capable of employing Maori labour and giving an outlet to Maori ambitions while still permitting him to follow his own way of life in his leisure time does seem at least part of an answer to the Maori’s present problems. The Ruatoki scheme has those features, and the elders of the settlement, in according to their support, as they are reported to have done, have rightly recognised its potentially constructive effect on the young people of their community. With a natural bent for handcrafts, and an instinct for handling machinery, Maori workers should provide a good class of labour for the industry contemplated. Apart from giving wider scope in their own home district to the young men, it should also be able to provide the young women with an outlet for their natural skill with their fingers and a chance to become members of a team turning out a product in which they can take piide. j .