MAORIS AS FARMERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20740, 6 December 1930, Page 15

MAORIS AS FARMERS.

EAST COAST SETTLEMENT.

PROGRESS IN DAIRYING.

MR. F. W. FURKERT IMPRESSED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] WELLINGTON, Friday.

Reference to the excellent work being done in dairy farming by Maoris on the East Coast, between Opotiki and Cape Runaway was made to ; day by Mr. F. W. Furkert, engineer-in-chief to t ho Public Works Department, who has returned to Wellington after a tour of various districts with members of the Main Highways Board, of which he is chairman. Mr. Furkert said ho had been surprised to find that tho nativo farmers had made such progress on their farms in two years. They had had in many cass to overcome great difficulties, but the members of tho board had seen herds controlled by them' which would havo borne most favourable comparison with any of the choicest in Taranaki. In some instances herds of 50 and 60 cows were being milked, and at one group settlement about 300 cows were in excellent condition.

The natives had taken up the industry with remarkable thoroughness. In places the cowbails had concrete floors, and tho farms were conducted in 1 a hygienic manner and with the latest appliances. Tho new settlements were divorced from the old idea of a Maori village. Excellent houses were foundj and in general the natives showed quite clearly that they had taken the experiment seriously and wero determined to build up an industry along modern lines.

Considerable difficulties were experienced in getting cream out of the district. It had to bo loaded on to a launch on a rough coast, and transported to To Kaha, where it had to be taken by road to Opotiki. The Maori settlements in the farming area referred to were not served by a road as yet, although proposals were being considered to provide a Jink. On mauy occasions the sea was too rough to take the cream to To Kaha, and it had to be left until the weather permitted the launch to sail. In spite of these hardships the settlers were doing excellent work.