MAORI DAIRY PROGRESS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18063, 13 April 1933, Page 12

MAORI DAIRY PROGRESS

NGATA SCHEME ON COAST IDLE LAND BEING FARMED About 10,000 acres of idle land on the south-eastern shores of the Bay of Plenty aro being turned into dairy farms under the Ngata scheme, and recent progress was described to the East Coast Guardian by Mr. C. A. J. Randrup, who has just returned to Opotiki after a visit to Cape Runaway. From Torero to the Cape-, Mr. Randrup examined dairy farms, oil which a fairly good class of dairy cow is being handled, while largo numbers of heifers, imported from well known daily herds in Taranaki and the Waikato, aro being grazed in readiness for tlio coining season. The Jersey strain predominates, and this class of animal should do well in the kindly climate of the Coast. The To Kalia dairy factory reports an increase in first-grade produce of some 30 per cent., and Mr. Juil, the manager, attributes at least 25 per cent, of this increase to the efficient new water supply. By harnessing the Tawapuhu Stream , (tho stream which, tradition tells, had , strange life-saving qualities for sick humans) and piping from the high Puke- ! kahuHill, this water now supplies with a i good pressure some 40 homes and farms. A good water-supply is perhaps the most i important item on a dairy farm, and i hero tho department lias again shown ; the thoroughness peculiar to the general i scheme of developing native lands. “Strict supervision by local exports,”

said Mr. Ramlrup, “lias converted some 10,000 acres of hitherto idle native land along the Coast into compact blocks suitable for dairying, and it is a pleasure to note tho neat fencing and subdivisions right along through Maraenui, Oimiio, To Kalia, Raukolcore, and Orere, and to see the transformation of an idle country and a comparatively idle and unambitious people into a vigorous wealth-producing community, witli a future of independence and undoubted prosperity. Sir Apirana Ngata lias shown the people the possibility, and I believe tho people will seize their opportunity to convert their lands into fanning units. I have no doubt,” concluded Air. Rand rap, “that witli correct supervision tho Maori will prove a successful dairy-farmer.”