MAORIS AS FARMERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 759, 4 September 1929, Page 6

MAORIS AS FARMERS

NEW INCENTIVES FOR PROGRESS INDUSTRY ON THE LAND (THE :iUX a Parliamentary Reporter) PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Wed. A year of progress particularly in the native farming industry. is reflected in the annual report of the Native Affairs Department, presented to Parliament today. Sufficient progress has been made in the consolidating schemes to give the -Maori owner of the soil a fresh incentive to industrial progress, especially ■where agricultural and primary industries are concerned. Some people are apt to consider the Maori as one who is not accustomed t o work, but returns recently published by the Government Statistician show that ou. of a population of some 64,000 Maoris, including women and children, more than 22,000 of these were engaged in various labouring pursuits. at least half being in agricultural and pastoral industries. The great problem is how- to find sufficient money to enable the Maori usefully to develop his own land, and 10 reap an adequate return for his labour. Maori land boards are doing what they can to give an incentive to agricultural development, and it will be noted from the returns that advances to Maoris have increased by LBO,OOO, while certain areas of land have been acquired by boards for native farming purposes. NEW VISTA OF PROSPERITY During the year a forward move was made, as far as the Maori people are concerned, in bringing the Waikato people into line with their less conservative brothers in the heart of what was known as the King Country, the inhabitants of which have to a certain extent held aloof from the inarch of progress. A meeting was held at which representatives of every other tribe in New Zealand were present, and questions dealing with industrial organisation, Maori agricultural development, and other matters making for the physical, moral, and social welfare of the Maori were discussed from all angles. The Waikato people, having profited by the experience of other Maoris, are now anxious to turn their energies to the occupation and development of suitable areas of land lor farming purposes. Delegations of Maori farmers, having visited their brother Maoris in less-favoured districts, have pointed out how lands can be pofitably used, and have opened up for them a vista of future development and prosperity. MAORI DAIRY FACTORIES A splendid illustration of the fruits of Maori perseverance under proper guidance is shown in the results of a Maori-owned dairy factory which last season saw an output of 285 tons of high-grade butter. The Bay of Plenty Maoris have also a butter factory of their own. There are various drawbacks which prevent that factory making greater strides, but it serves a very useful purpose in encouraging the natives In habits of industry and thrift. In Taranaki there are many Maori suppliers, while in the Ear North, during the 1927-2 S season, some 550 Maoris supplied butter-fat valued at £53,000 to local factories. NATIVE LANDS AND FUNDS The area disposed of last year was: Sold 55,408 acres, leased 91,746 acres. Native land now remaining vested in Maori Land Boards is 667,750 acres. Funds held or invested by Maori Land Boards increased by £30,187 7s during the year. The following were the figures at March 31, 1929: Deposited with Native Trustee £248,360 15s 6d, Government securities £29,540, other securities £260,637 19s Id; cash balances £45,546 7s 4d. total £554,385 Is lid. Native land purchased by the Crown amounted to 7.292 acres. The area proclaimed as Crowd land was 12,510 acres. Since 1910 1,439,429 acres of native land have been acquired through the Native Land Purchase Board, at au aggregate expenditure of £3,424,257. The estimated area of native land still owned by the Maoris in the North Island is as follows: Estimated at March 31, 1928. 4,083,057 acres; sales to Crown, 7.292 acres; sales to individuals, 15,363 acres; total at March 31, 1929, 4.060,402 acres. Fees collected by the Native Land Court and Native Appellate Court, totalled £5.284, against £5,893 during the preceding period. FIGHTING EPIDEMICS During the year an unfortunate epidemic of dysentery broke out, the principal sufferers being the Maori people. The department joined with the Health Department in settihg up a special organisation which effectively dealt with the dysentery, and its probable causes, and the epidemic has now abated. Precautions are, however, being taken to prevent a recurrence and a general clean-up of Maori pas within the area most affected is being carried out. The Maoris themselves are wholeheartedly seconding the efforts of tli». organisation, having been brought to see that it was in their own interests to have their general living conditions reviewed and improved. The Native Trust Office account shows receipts for the year to be £214.691 9s 3d. leaving a credit of £ 1,682 5s 6d.