MAORI FARMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 23 September 1941, Page 8

MAORI FARMS

( OWS NOT BEING MILKED DAIRY COMPANY CONCERNED 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, states the “Herald.” Consideration was given to the curtailment of one cream collection ! route on account of the decrease in ! supply. ; It was stated that in the Waimio | area one Maori farmer had stopped ! milking his herd of 23 cows and ' allowed the calves to run with the | cows, while another had turned out I his herd of 14 cows. In this settlement ! the Government had advanced thous- [ ands of pounds to the Maoris for improvements to their land and for the : purchase of cows. The land was not being farmed, nor were the- cows being milked, the Maoris receiving so much in the way of other benefits from the j Government that they were not inclined to work their farms, j It was further stated that in one - ; Maori settlement supplying the Bay ! • of Islands factory the number of sup- j ; pliers had decreased from about 20 to j | six in the last two years. At the commencement. of the Maori land development scheme the Bay of Islands com- ! pany expressed the opinion to the I Government 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. said Mr S. W. Smith, chairman of directors, was practically to the effect that the company should mind its own business. Mr Smith said his company was definitely concerned about the position, but before taking any action was carrying oout an investigation to ascertain just what had led up to the decrease in Maori cream supply.