Farmland Given Maori Foundation

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30156, 13 June 1963, Page 14

Farmland Given Maori Foundation

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 12

A gift of 740 acres of what may be developed into some of the best farmland in New Zealand was made today by Mr E. C. Holms, of Pirinoa, near Featherston, to the Maori Education Foundation.

“This is the most substantial presentation made to the foundation to date,” said. the Minister of Maori Affairs (Mr Hanan) when he received the deed of ownership from Mr Holms. “It is also the first of its kind. By the time the gift is made over it could be worth £75.000.”

As well as the gift of land, Mr Holms intends to spend £5OO a year for the next 15 years to bring the lend into production. Most of it is swampland but Mr Holms intends to use the same development system he has used on the rest of his farm. The Maori Trustee has settled the land in trust for the foundation for the next 15 years.

Mr Holms’ family intends to lease the land from the trustee for the 15 years. Development costs in excess of £5OO a year will be met by the trustee. Mr Holms settled at Pirinoa about 1900. He bought 2000 acres of Maori land and began developing it.

Maoris in the area always gave him the greatest possible assistance, he said, and it was in return for their help that he wanted to make the gift for the betterment of the Maori .people The gift would be most useful just at the time when it would be most needed, said the chairman of the foundation’s board (Mr D G. Ball). In about 15 years the foundation would have expanded to such a degree that all assistance possible to it would be welcomed.