MAORI MILK SUPPLIERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6176, 6 April 1907, Page 3

MAORI MILK SUPPLIERS

INDUSTRIOUS NATIVES. PRESS ASSOCIATION*. GISBORNE. April 5. Papers on dairying thrift were read and discussed at tho Te Auto Association mooting until a late hour to-night. A paper on dairying, following up remarks by tho Chief Justice, lias special interest. It was contributed by Ihaka Whaanga. of Nuhnka, who-said that in PJO2 a creamery was suggested by Europeans. The Government promised to put up a creamery if a guarantee of a supply from 300 cows wore given. A meeting of settlers was held, and a total guarantee was given, between -Maoris and Europeans, of a supply from 400 cows. It was made a condition that if the creamery had to close down tho cows guaranteed should bo sold to pay expenses. A company was formed with 2500 shares of £1 ouch. Alaoria took up 150 of the shares, the rest being taken by Europeans. The factory started work on September 7th, 1.002. Ho had twelve cows, and tho other 3laoris with shares had nine. Five shillings per month was paid on the shares. In 1005 a number of 3laoris joined tho factory. At that time fourteen Maoris were suppliers. nnd they had a largo number of shares. Tho speaker said ho now owned 52 shares. Ho had taken shares in lieu of hard cash for milk supplied. Tho Maoris now owned 381. cows, in numbers ranging from 1G to 53. There » were now only two Europeans supplying tho factory, but they owned a good j number of cows. Tho Europeans had < stopped supplying milk because of the lack of good roads. In answer to 31 r Thornton, headmaster .of To Auto College, tho speaker said the* 3laoris certainly liked the work. An evidence of their permanence in tho business was tho fact that they had not rushed into it, but had taken throe years to get into it. Tho natives had not been able to make a success of sheepfurming, but they found dairying paid very well. The owner of 29‘cows made £1 per month per cow. That was tho highest record. Tho speaker milked from 30 to 40 cows, and Ids monthly cheque was between ,020 and 030. Tho cows wore inspected by a Government inspector, tho only fault found being that tho cows did not calve very well. The dairies were supervised by an inspector, who, on tho whole, was very satisfied, but always kept on telling tho natives to keep everything clean. The factory was run by a company connected in somo way with the Government. His cows were owned by himself. Other natives wore given cows by a resident, who retained the title to the cows, and got nil tho calves. Tho 31noris got all the profit from the milk. At present, tho speaker said, tho cows were gradually being bought by the 3laoris out of the profits on the milk. Only one native had given up supplying, and circumstances were against Ids continuing. Ho was not tired of business. The owner of the cows took only part of the milk cheques, and ho Imped to bo paid for all his cows in three years. 3laoris without families had to hire labour, but those with families did their own milking. Last year ho got £3OO for tho milk from 52 cows. Ho thought tho natives would stick to the industry so long as it paid. The Native Laaul Commission had gone into the question. and had promised to put tho land on a good footing. On an average a milk supplier put in about four hours a day in milking, and the rest of tho day could be devoted to making money in other ways. A motion was carried to write to the representative natives who had taken up dairying and sheepfarming, and ask them to state what difficulties they had had to overcome.