LEVY ON BUTTERFAT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22316, 29 April 1947, Page 6

LEVY ON BUTTERFAT

MONEY FOR RATES HOKIANGA MAORIS (P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 29. Maori suppliers of cream in the Hokianga County have voluntarily agreed to the increase to half pence their contribution of one-farthing per pound of butterfat in lieu of rates as has been done since 1939. Also they have decided to ask the tribal communities to work out a method of levying 2| per cent on the value of all kumara and other crops marketed commercially and to make a levy upon the dry stock. These decisions were reached unani n.ously at a large gathering of Maoris at Rawene. where was also discussed the proposed participation of the Maori candidates for local body seats at the elections next November. The interest of the Maoris in local government was welcomed by Mr Pritchard. Judge of the Native Land Court, and Mr Bell, deputy registrar of the Native Department. who urged the necessity for the selection of the right men as "candidates “With your 02 per cent.” sa-d Mr Pritchard, “you could push the pakeha out—but I say no. If you did that you would only hurt yourselves and still not get your road.-: ” and this is import A dcmonstrat : on of Maori-European co-operation and goodwill in the Hokianga Countv was the election of Mrs Cooper, a Maori princess, as the nresi dent, of'the Hokianga Rugby Union, the first woman to hold such a position in Now Zealand.