Maori Farming Methods Criticised And Praised

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29067, 2 December 1959, Page 19

Maori Farming Methods Criticised And Praised

(New Zeatana Pres, Association)

GISBORNE, Dec. 1. While the development of East Coast lands was subject to handicaps of lack of capital and high costs, these were not the main causes for the present backward state of farm production in that region, Mr H. D. Chamberlain, farm advisory officer to the Agricultural Department, told the New Zealand Grasslands Association Corporation today. "The main problems arise from the fact that Maori landowners still try to cling to an out-dated culture, incompatible with modem business,” he said.

“Unless the owners of these vast and potentially productive lands can be persuaded to come to terms with the facts of modem life the lands they own will continue to deteriorate through lack of incentive to both sleeping and active partners.”

"By far the greatest area in East Coast counties is owned by Maor j s > it is not being farmed weti,’ he said. He said the changes needed must come from the Maori people themselves, but that they should be assisted in operation Mr V. Holst, of the Maori Affairs Department, said that in the last 100 years, the Maoris had gradually acquired a practical knowledge of the various forms of European farming. “The acquisition of this knowledge has resulted in more and more individuals in each succeeding generation desiring to become farmers in their own right, and in having that desire backed up

tradition of farmins ex ?^ e ° ce ” Mr Holst said g ratify l esire , to farm their lands, f a t ner than . !ease them, is developing rapidly throughout the 2™? try ’ and this is strongly in n « e on the East Coast.” of 4 ™ Said that of the total lAwfXuT 00 acres owned b * Maoris, L 350.000 acres were considered unsuitable for farming, 1,000,000 nnn Were leased . approximately aw.OOO acres were being farmed oy Maori owners, and some 490,000 acres were controlled by the Maon Affairs Department under its land development scheme.