NATIVE LANDS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 236, 4 September 1929, Page 7

NATIVE LANDS.

PURCHASES BY CROWN.

OPERATIONS LAST YEAR

(By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. During the past financial year the native land purchased by the Crown amounted to 7292 acres. The area proclaimed as Crown land was 12,510 acres. Since 1910 1,439,429 acres of native land have beon acquired through the Native Land Purchase. Board at an aggregate expenditure of £3,424,257. The estimated area of the native lands still owned by Maoris in the North Island is as follows: — Acres. Acres. Estimated as at Mar. 31, .1928 Less — Sales to Crown ... 7,292 Sales, to individuals 15,363 4,060,402 The various consolidating schemes have gone forward, but as indicated in last year’s report the matter has to be approached with much care, and it will be some time before all the schemes in the various districts can be fully carried out. Sufficient progress has, however, been made to give the Maori owner of the soil a fresh incentive to industrial progress and especially where the primary industries are concerned. FRUITS OF PERSEVERANCE. A splendid illustration of the fruits of Maori perseverance under proper guidance is shown in the results of a Maori owned factory which last season saw an output of 285 tons of high grade butter. The Bay of Plenty Maoris have also a butter factory of their own. There are various drawbacks which prevent that factory making greater strides, but it serves a very useful purpose in encouraging the natives in habits of industry and ; thrift. ■ ' •' ‘ In Taranaki there are many Maori suppliers, while in the far north during the 1927-28 season some 550 Maoris supplied butter-fat valued at £53,000 to the local factories. Some people are apt to the Maori as one who is not accustomed to work, but returns recently published by the Govermnent Statistician show that out of a population of some 64,000 Maoris, including women and children, over 22,000 of these were engaged in various labouring pursuits, at least half being in the primary industries. DEVELOPING LAND. “The great problem,” says the Under-Secretary, “is how to find sufficient money to enable the Maori to usefully develop his own land and to reap an adequate return for his labour. The Maori land boards are doing what they can to give ail incentive to agricultural development, and it will be noted from the various returns that the advances to Maoris have increased by £BO,OOO, while certain areas of land havo been acquired by the boards for native farming purposes.”