MAORI INDUSTRY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16500, 18 November 1927, Page 12

MAORI INDUSTRY

The Maori lias the making of a firstclass fanner. He only needs the incentive and the opportunity, and both of these will be given by the scheme of the Aravva Trust Hoard when carried to fruition, states the Rotorua Chronicle. The Trust has purchased a fine farm area at Maketu. Here some 300 acres of first-class farm land is being developed. This, it is hoped, may be the nucleus of a great educational farming college where Maori cadets can learn by practical participation in the work.of production all that is needed to render them fit to take up, occupy and work their native lands to profit. There is also scope to encourage the scientific cultivation of flax and to learn its uses and treatment when grown. The education of Maori .youth and the placing of them upon the land will do more for the race and for the Dominion than any form of handling this racial problem. The Aravva Trust Board’s property now carries some fdu head of stock and a large number of pedigree pigs. Mr. McConnell is ii charge, and under his management the area, is being fully developed. It now carries a splendid sole of grass and is in great heart. The farm will serve not only as a school, but will provide firstclass dairy cattle to Maori farmers setting up in their homesteads. The encouragement of the spirit, of self help and independence , the settlement: of the Maori on the land, as a producer, a citizen with an individual interest, in tin country, is the aim of the Aravva Trust Board.