THE AHUWHENUA CUP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19269, 10 March 1937, Page 12

THE AHUWHENUA CUP

(To tho Editor of the Herald.) Sir,—Since the institution of the Ahttwlieima Cup by Lord Hledisloe. its generous donor. 1 have had doubts about its purpose and usefulness. In the first place, its scope is too narrow: it, is open for competition only amongst' natives employed under the native land development schemes. We know that only a small section of the Maori people is engaged under the land schemes while a very large number ol Maori

farmers is outside.. umber (ii native fanners on the least. Coast eligible to compete for the cup is insignificant and vet to present it, the Goyernorieneral. accompanied by his lamily, had to make a special trip in the Mat ii and a large gathering of the NgaliPorou tribe was held at. Tikitiki to witness the function of presentation, jhe niain interest, lay, of course, in the vice-

type, suspended on flexible “floating power” mounting, the horse-power being 43/14, ami the developed horse-power 32. Tin. gear-box is id the three-speed synchro-silent type, taking its drive Inoiigli a larger air-cooled plate clutch. Semi-elliptic springs are lifted trout and 'car, and the 'brakes are hydraulic, auto-

matic ctpmlisitsg. In a few lines, (he car is a most, comn tahle, well : prung vehicle, having a | ■artirularly good view forward, easy to i I rive, (lood cornering ipialities were are ■'cry marked"’ I

regal party itself, not in the cup. The winners of the trophy may he good fanners Imt. all their good farming would not go far if they itid not have an' unlimited supply of money behind them, besides, they are mulei Government supervision, where there is no room for initiative and self-reliance. If the purpose of the cup is to stimulate farming amongst the Maori people as a whole why is its scope so limited? The schemes are not, going to save the Maori people. Why is there no cup presented to encourage the Maori tanner who started practically with nothing and ha a been currying on without a penny from the S'tate? Y\ lev is he overlooked? Why should not. the Governor-General shake hands with him? lie lias toiled cm, unknown and probably unwept, not to win applause hut just to provide his large family with bread and butter.

Tin* best Maori farmers are not under the land schemes ami are thus ineligible to compete for the Alimvlienua Cup. Tile possession of the cup is, therefore, not, a fair test of good fanning. There is too much glamour in connection with the trophy. The conditions of the. cup are too exclusive to entitle it to general

approbation, and its only use 1 can see is to "boost,” the land schemes. The fuss made over the Ahuwheniia Cup is creating false impressions. It may be taken as a reward In the lav.l Maori farmer in the Dominion : it may lie taken as a means of stimulating industry amongst the Maori people as a whole when it is not.

Many people have l.lte idea that I,ho industrial movement amongst the Maori people, particularly on the East Coast, is a result of the Stale native land schemes. The schemes were started only in 1930, while industrial movement- com-

mcneed about 40 years ago. The pioneer Maori farmers did not need a cup to inspire them, nor did they receive a penny from the Stale to assist them. Jn the ease of the Ngati-I’orou it was private settlers, chief amongst them was tiie laic Mr. 'l'. S. Wilburns, who

assisted litem in ilieir farming operations and it, was tlm economic needs of the native farmers that spurred (hem on. A trophy never entered into their calculations. Keen in the case of Mr. Swinlon, who first, won the liledisloo Cup, lie did not ewe his success entirely to the schemes for he had been farming for years be foie lie went under the schemes. The schemes which are successful are those where the natives had already developed their own lands before the schemes commenced operations,' while on the other hand, schemes originally started by the Native Department, according to a report read before (lie Maori Labour conference, are all insolvent.

I am, needless to say. not in anv way finding fault with the donor of the Alniwhemia, Cup nor with Lord Galway, for all they wished to do was to show their sympathy with the Maori people and they acted as they were advised. Yours, etc.

DEMOCRAT.