MAORI LAND AGENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3854, 24 January 1928, Page 18

MAORI LAND AGENTS.

BOUNTY OF THE NATIVES.

AUCKLAND, January 19

Some of the difficulties encountered in the task of inducing Natives to settle down were explained by Dr Ellison (director of Maori hygiene) at a conference of Native school teachers this morning. “ If the Maori land agents were made to adopt definite charges and not rely upon the thankfulness and gratitude of the Maori there would not to-day be so much poverty among the Maori people.” he said. The Maori could never 'ecei.e a gift or a service without making some acknowledgment. The agent who had helped the Maori to secure his land knew this very well. He made charge, mt he did hold out his hand. The Maori would not know just what the agent had done for him in the matter, and the result was that the agent usually came ou! with flying colours.

Dr Ellison explained that Maori land belonged in most instances to large numbers of Natives. A Maori might be able to claim a fiftieth or some other fractional part of a block. One could well imagine the trouble and difficulty which might be experienced before a Maori actualr- - had his portion fenced off. It was a costly business, but it could be made less expensive if there was a proper seal? of charges. *