HOUSES FOR MAORIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22988, 16 March 1938, Page 15

HOUSES FOR MAORIS

PROGRESS IN NORTH DEPARTMENT'S SCHEME DEVELOPMENT AT NGATAKI Approximately 100 houses for Maori occupation have been built in the North Auckland district in the past year by the Native Department, and steady progress in the housing of natives is being maintained. It is recognised by the department that efficiency as farmers cannot be expected from natives unless a substantial improvement generally is made in housing conditions.

Twelve houses just completed on a block of land in process of development at Ngataki will give substantial relief to conditions at Tc Hapua, where there had been much distress. Twelve families, comprising 21 adults and 31 children. 13 of whom are of school age, are being transferred from To Hapua to the new houses at Ngataki. There is considerable work available in the improvement of this property, and Maoris are now engaged in cutting drains through what should bo valuable swamp land. A start will soon be made in ploughing about 50 or 60 acres before the winter.

At To Hapua it is stated that the natives are getting fairly good returns from gum digging, so that there should not bo distress. Indeed, there appears to bo very little unemployment now among Maoris in the northern districts, much work having been made available in land development schemes by tho department. In places the department is actually experiencing difficulty in getting sufficient labour, as a fair amount of private work is offering. There is, of course, a percentage of unemployable labour.