NATIVE SCHEMES IN ROTORUA DISTRICT

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 114, 16 May 1934, Page 11

NATIVE SCHEMES

IN ROTORUA DISTRICT

EVIDENCE BEFORE COM-

MISSION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

EOTOETJA, May, 15,

"The first witness during tho afternoon session of the Native Affairs Commission today was J. H. Watson, accountant of tho Waiariki Native Land Board. Witness said he had held this position for tho past four years, pro-' viously being on the staff of the Lauds Department.

It had been impossible to carry out a proper system owing to shortage of staff, which grew steadily more acute, he said. Ho knew the system required, but there was simply not the staff to cany it out. The system of keeping the majority of the main accounts in Wellington also made it very difficult. The whole of the accounts had now been transferred to Botorua, and tho staff had been increased, with the result that tho position was now quite satisfactory. The posting of unit accounts was still a year in arrears, but he considered he would catch up by the end of July this year. Prior to this he had done his best with a limited staff, but had been obliged to let some stock records fall behind. He contended, however, that his records were sufficient to account for the stock numerically. His office was not concerned with the financial side of stock matters, which was attended to in Wellington. Witness admitted that an over-allow-ance had been paid to Z.-Mitchell on the Maketu sehemo owing to the fact that witness misunderstood the regulations. This had since been rectified. To Mr. Hampson witness said that no doubt tho schemes would not have progressed as they had done without the influence of Mr. Tai Mitchell, who had not spared himself in spite of the fact that he had not enjoyed good health for a considerable period. RAPID GROWTH OF SCHEMES. William James Scott, farm supervisor for tho Native Department in the Eotorua district, said that all of the schemes in and around Eotorua came under his supervision. Dealing first with his work, he said that the schemes nad grown so rapidly that he had been quite unable to supervise adequately all the work in hand. He undertook most of the purchases of beef cattle and sheep, but not of dairy cattle. Some of the last he did not consider good purchases. Dealing with tho various schemes, witness said that personally he would not recommend taking up Horohoro country for dairying, but ho had not been consulted concerning the land to bo taken up in.this area. He also considered that the probable eventual capital cost of £14 or £15 an aero which would be loaded on the land would make it impossible for it to be farmed successfully under the present conditions. He considered that a groat deal of it could be worked as a payable proposition at £.10 or £11 an acre, but it would have to be written down. He did not think the costs1 of implements used on Horohoro and subsequently taken to other schemes should be loaded on tho Horohoro land. The s"ame applied to the cost of the internal roading of blocks. ■ NATIVES' GOOD WORK. The Natives were of a good type and were working well. Ho thought that if the capital charges were written down they would manage to pay their way. He criticised tho system of manuring adopted, which he did not consider suitable for,Rotorua land. This had been formulated by the Cawthron institute and carried out. on tho instructions of the Native Minister', but he considered that tho results had shown it was not effective. A fair proportion of pasture would have to be reconditioned. He considered the Horohoro country could have been brought in for £12 an aero if horse teams had been used instead of tractors. The rough Horohoro country was not suitable for tractors, which proved very expensive and loaded further costs on the land.