MAORIS SET EXAMPLE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16838, 29 December 1928, Page 11

MAORIS SET EXAMPLE

HYGIENIC METHODS MODERN DAIRYING PRACTICE It is not often that the white man has to look to a native race to set an example in an industry introduced into the country by the White man himself, but apparently the Ngatiporou tribe, which has adopted the dairying industry with no little success, is able to set an example to many pakehas, at least in respect to hygenic methods. Frequent mention has been made in these columns of the progress tho Maori dairymen have been making in the Waiapu Valley, and all who come into contact with them have nothing but praise for the maimer in which they have taken to their task, and stuck to it over a period of years. The natives have been willing to learn, and those who have been in the position to instruct them in any branch of the industry have found them willing students, who put into practice the : methods" that are recommended to them. This, apparently, is the secret of their success, and in the carrying out of their instructions they do not , do it in the lackadaisical manner that has been associated with the Maori race in the past.

Very interesting observations wore made in reference to their activities by Mr. T, Kidd, of Gisborne, who recently made a visit to a number of farms near Euatoria. During the course of his travels he found that about 50 milking plants had been installed, and that, the Maoris were keeping their premises and plant spotlessly clean. Many of them had concrete floors to their sheds, with the walls whitewashed. Floors were scrubbed and machines cleaned thoroughly after every milking, and as a consequence a high grade of cream was received at their co-operative factory. He could say that in respect to cleanliness the I Maoris of the Waiapu Valley could show many of the pakeha dairymen in ■ other districts a few points, and if an example were required he would nave no hesitation in pointing out members i of, the Ngatiporou tribe as such. j Mr. Kidd's business was only in', respect of separators, but at the same time he had an opportunity of seeing j many other departments of the Maoris' i work. Their herds, he mentions, arc j kept in good condition, and ho describ-

ed with much admiration the keenness with which the Maoris took up their work. In this respect he attributes much of the success to the sound foundations laid by Sir Apirana Ngftta, who is ever impressing on members of his race the importance of using proper methods in their industry, When he whs met by a gathering of Maoris after the recent session of Parliament, he addressed them on political matters, but he did not fail to impress on the gathering the importance of further effort in the task they had set, themselves in the dairying industry.