DAIRYING AT RUATOKI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20425, 29 November 1929, Page 14

DAIRYING AT RUATOKI.

CHEESE FACTORY OPENED.

MANY MAORI SUPPLIERS.

FINANCING NATIVE FARMERS.

[BY TELEORArrr.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

WHAKATANE, Thursday. With due ceremony the now cheese factory at Kuatoki was officially opened yesterday. afternoon by Sir Apirana Ngata, Minister of Nutive Affairs, in ll iq presence of a largo gathering of Maoris and Europeans. The new building is constructed in forro-concrete and lias modern equipment. It lias four 900-gallon vat,s and is turning out 360 tons of cheese a year. Tho natives aro responsibly for about a third of this output. Tho cheese factory at Opouricto is also a modern ferro-conoreto structure, arid has an output of about 700 tons. Both factories are under the control of the Opouriao Dairy Company.

Mr. W. Reid, on behalf of the directors and suppliers of the company, extended a hearty welcome to Sir Apirana Ngata and the other visitors. He said tho new factory was the most up-to-date oi its size in t)ie Dominion, and the Government had taken tho plans so that other new factories of similar size could be built from the same design. The plant also was of the latest design. The cost of the building was £6OOO, and the plant £3OOO, making a total of £9OOO.

Every Faith in Natives. Twenty years ago, when the first factory was built at Rrfatoki, Mr, Reid said, jicoplo considered the directors were mad (o | nl, up a factorv there, it being alleged that the natives could not be depended on as suppliers. Ife was pleased to say that these pessimistic forecasts had not been realised. On the contrary the native suppliers not only bad never failed to supply, but' had increased their supplies. (Applause.) The erection of the new factory showed that the directors had every faith in the natives. The land in the vicinity responded readily to manures and the natives had been improving their pastures by topdressing. Ruatoki was also exceptionally well watered by numerous streams. It was a district well worth catering for. What was needed was a fund to enable the natives to buy cows and grass seed and the district would then go ahead by leaps and bounds. Tic was pleased that Sir Apirana Ngata had introduced a bill to give the natives assistance in this direction.

Ovation for Minister. Congratulations were tendered to the company by representatives of other dairy companies and local bodies. Sir Apirana Ngata, 011 rising to speak, received an ovation. He first addressed a few words in his native tongue to tho large number of Maoris present and afterwards spoke in English to the whole gathering. He referred to the fire that had destroyed tho old factory on April 24, 1927, and congratulated tho directors and all concerned on the handsome new building that had been erected in its place. He referred to the part played by the .natives in the supplying of milk to the factory and was pleased to hear the directors had such confidence in the native suppliers. Dealing with the progress that had been made in the district, tho Minister said that up to 1895 tho King's writ did not apply in Ruatoki. In 1907 Sir Apirana visited Ruatoki and arrangements were made to provide the faite for the factory. Tho directors were given a freehold site and 011 that site the old factory stood for 21 years, until it was destroyed by fire. Now they had a factory which was modern in overv respect. The Problem of Finance. The natives must milk and keep on milking, but tho problem was how to assist them to tho best advantage. Neither pakeha nor Maori loafers were wanted. The pakeha needed to realise that the Maori had been muddling along and was handicapped in having a title to his land upon which 110 one would lend money. The Whakatane Council had recognised that, and for some time the native land had not. been rated. The native titles must be straightened out first. It was wonderful that the natives had been able to exist without being able to raise money to purchase herds and to grass their splendid land. As Native Minister, after consultation as to a likely area, 110 could under recent legislation assume control of it with a view to consolidating the titles. This he proposed to do with tho Ruatoki block.

A start had been made by the Government buying out tho interests of Urowera natives who did not work on tho land. This would enlarge the holdings of the Ruatoki natives. Tho next step would be to assist the natives with their farming, and to give finance to help them along. Success at Ruatoria. The Minister hoped to have a supervisor appointed, and one of tho duties would bo to warn the natives against buying culled cows. It was better for tho natives to buy good cows which, in spito of extra ccst, would give tho best reward.

Sir Apirana mentioned tho success of tho Ngatiporou butter factory .-it Ruatoria, which is run solely by tho natives as a 00-operaiivo concern. Four years ago they produced 60 tons, while last season the output was 400 tons. They were simply galloping ahead. Tho natives on the East Coast lands wcro now producing 1200 tons of dairy produce, a year. With financial assistance tho Maori could get science to assist him in tho dairying industry, and he would vie with the pakeha in taking a full part in the economic life of the Bay of Plenty. After declaring the factory open the Minister led tho natives in a spirited war cry.

After the opening- the people adjourned to the grounds of the Anzac TTall, where a, bountiful supply of refreshments was dispensed.