Help for Maori Fanners

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 60, 12 March 1937, Page 7

Help for Maori Fanners

HON. F. LANGSTONE’S POLICY. Per Press Association. GISBORNE, March 11. The need for inducing Maoris to farm their own land, and the vexed problem of rates payable on Native holdings, were dealt with by the Hon. F. Langstone, Minister of Lands, and 1 acting-Miaister of Native Affairs, when replying to a civic welcome accorded him last evening. “It is the duty and intention of the Government, declared Mr Langstone, “to make a big effort to rehabilitate the Native race into the position of useful and successful farmers of thoir own land. We shall do everything possible to help them. Some people say Maoris won't work, won't pay their rates. That has been true up to a point, but circumstances have been against the Maoris. They have been in the position of renters, people living upon rents or interest. When the depression came and the rents ceased to come in, the Maori was unable to face the position, because ho had not been trained to accept the responsibilities of working out his own salvation. He had been kept by others. No system of charity will do, in dealing with the Maori. We must teach him to stand on his own feet.

“The duty and responsibility rests upon the Government," he continued, “to give all tho advice and all the assistance possible, but even that is not enough unless wo have the co-operation of the Maori himself. We must see that the Maori is in a position to farm his land and pay his rates. Then he must pay them, or face steps to have them collected. If he still does not pay, he must bo prepared to get off the land. And that applies to a great extent to many of their pakehn neighconcluded Mr Langston®.