MAORI ENTERPRISE

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1931, Page 12

MAORI ENTERPRISE

DEVELOPMENT OF LAND GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S INTEREST. HOROHORO BLOCK INSPECTED, i Rotorua, Dec. 17. Maori enthusiasm and loyalty triumphed over most unpleasant weather conditions to-day, when Lord Bledisloe and Lady Bledisloe, accompanied by Sir Apirana Ngata and Makea Tinerau, a Rarotongan chief, visited the Horohoro native land development block, about 10 -mile* from Rotorua. Drizzling rain made conditions the reverse of pleasant, and necessitated ths curtailment of today’s programme. It was originally intended to visit two other blocks in the vicinity of Horohoro, but the -weather ■conditions made that impossible. All the cars had to take chains to traverse the roads into the settlement,' and the Maori welcome and feast had to be held under a large marquee. Their Excellencies, however, entered whole-heartedly into the spirit of- the very war® welcome extended them, and showed a keen interest in the development work proceeding at the block. The Governor-General’s first duty on entering the settlement was to open the new Horohoro native school. FEAST SERVED IN MARQUEE. The Vice-Regal party were then the guests of honour at a typical Maori feast and welcome at the home of the chief, Ruhi Ruhi Pururu, who, together with his people, made available to the Government the large area of land being used in connection with the Horohoro scheme. 1 ■ Gn behalf of the assembled Arawas, with whom he associated the Ngati Kahungunu of Wairoa, Sir Apirana; Ngata presented his Excellency with a handsomely-carved Maori casket and Lady Bledisloe with two splendid samples of Maori mat work. The party was greeted at Ruhi’s resi-, dence with a traditional Maori ceremony, the warriors welcoming them ■with a haka and retiring before the advancing guests, waving bunches of grass.' This was followed in succession by vigorous hakas and graceful poi dances, accompanied by Maori community Singing. The feast was then served in a marquee while the assembled natives sang Maori songs to entertain the guests. , ■ 1 SELF-RESPECT AND LAND. Sir Apirana Ngata said he hoped the Horohoro scheme would be the realisation of a dream. No people could retain their self-respect without land, and although the self-respect of the Maoris had been sadly battered about in the past in their contact with the white people, it was hoped by these development schemes to restore it. The settlement would be developed along communal lines. He hoped his Excellency’s inspection of the various schemes would open hi* eyes to what was at the back of the minds of those who were working for the advancement of the Maori people. * . 1 In replying, Lord Bledisloe warmly thanked, the natives for their gifts arid paid a tribute to Sir Apirana Ngata who, he said, was the most eloquent member of the New Zealand Parliament, and a great leader of his people. ■Sir Maui Pomare had been the prophet of health; Sir Apirana Ngata was the prophet of industrial development and economic progress. His Excellency stressed the value of education for those developing the land and instanced the success of agricultural education in Denmark. The old Maori idea that it was a crime against the land to disturb Nature’s original handiwork had long since passed and the Maori race must now realise the importance of earning wealth from the development of land. His Excellency urged the natives to study co-operative methods in order to develop productivity and marketing to the fullest extent. Following a haka of farewell and cheers for their Excellencies, the party left on a tour of the settlement.