’Maoris Prefer State Allowances To Dairying

Northern Advocate, 17 September 1941, Page 2

’Maoris Prefer State Allowances To Dairying

Concern has been expressed, from time to time, by the directors of the Bay of Islands Dairy Company at the falling off of cream supplies from Maori farmers. The position was discussed at a meeting of the directors, yes'erday, when consideration was given to the curtailment of one cream collection route on account of this decrease in supply. Curlai.ment of Cream Collection The route affected is that to the Maori settlement at Waiornio, as here the cartage contractor is paid on the amount of cream collected and the supply has fallen to such an extent that the contractor states he cannot carry on at the supply and has asked the directorate for consideration. At the meeting yesterday the directors decided to investigate the position and, if the supply is not increased then, consideration will have to be given t,o the curtailment of the run. Dairy Herds Turned Out In Waiornio it was stated that one Maori farmer had stopped milking his herd of 23 cows and allowed the calves to run with the cows, while another Maori farmer had turned out his herd of 14 cows. In this settlement the Government had advanced thousands of pounds to the Maoris for improvements to their land and for the purchase of cows. The land Is not being- farmed nor are the cows being milked, the Maoris receiving so much in the way of other benefits from the Government that they are not inclined to work their farms. In one Maori settlement supplying the Bay of Islands butter factory, the number of suppliers has decreased from about 20 to six in the last two years. Government Says Mind Own Business At the commencement of the Maori land development scheme the Bay of islands Dairy Company placed certain views before the Government .in which was expressed the opinion that more rigid control would be needed, if the Maori farmers were to be 'kept on their farms, milking their cows. The reply from the Government was practically to the effect that the company should mind its own business, stated the chairman of directors (Mr. S. W. Smith), when commenting on the position this morning. Mr. Smith said that his company was definitely concerned about the position but before taking any action were carrying out an investigation to ascertain just what had led up to the decrease in Maori cream supply to the factory.