Warmly-Human Work

Te Ao Hou, December 1955, Page 7

Warmly-Human Work Though research work may sound cold and not very human it was in this case rather, ordinary, warmly-human work—time spent stumping over paddocks and beaches, living with the people, talking to them, getting to know them and their problems. Mr Booth stayed at the home of Mr and Mrs Aperahama Witana, well-known Panguru people, for nine months. He found the local people extremely hospitable and helpful. Though his purpose, for a start, may not have been clearly understood he was accepted. It had been known before he was sent to Panguru that the early enthusiasm for land development was lagging. He found there was, in fact, a lack of any long-range view behind community activities. Economically, the people were at subsistence level only. Plainly they needed more

money if they were to be able to lead a fuller and more satisfying life. Following his painstaking research, Mr Booth made recommendations designed to help the area. The main recommendations were:— An investment society, to provide additional credit source, locally controlled. A co-operative piggery, to give additional economic help and to demonstrate modern methods of pig-rearing. Vegetable growing. The organisation of fishing, to provide a steady income. A library. Adult education classes. Better facilities for recreation and entertainments. Most of these recommendations and some others, have now been acted on. A year after completing the nine months research period Mr Booth went back to the area to see if the people wanted, with him, to put the recommendations into effect. A meeting was held, and the people said: “Yes, come back to us”. He has now been back there for over a year. In that time many new community schemes have been undertaken. The list is a wide one and the schemes may seem unrelated, but of course, anything going on in the community has an effect on its development. Though the activities start in different ways they are therefore all part of community development. All the activities are the people's though, where needed, they get guidance from outside. Some of the community development activities which the people are operating at present are as follows:— A library has been established. Books were provided by the Country Library Service. Mr William Noa gave the use of a room in his house as a library. His sister-in-law. Mrs Susan Noa, is librarian. The library is especially useful in furthering community development—providing books on farming, bookkeeping, dressmaking and other useful crafts, as well as providing light reading. Probably the most important work undertaken in the community development project has been the successful establishment of investment societies in three of the settlements. The aim of these is to encourage saving, and to make loans available for productive purposes. Society members contribute regularly. Under the overall supervision of the organiser, each society is controlled by an elected committee which is responsible for granting loans and ensuring repayment. It is hoped to be able to make use of local financial resources for such purposes as helping people to improve their housing and their farms, to clear their title to their land, and to educate their children. It is felt, too, that running investment societies will be an education experience that will give a better appreciation of the value of money and its uses. Preparing of a co-operative piggery at Waihou is another of the community development projects. Work done so far in the preparation of the site—draining and fencing—has been done by volunteer labour, but a tally has been kept of hours worked, and workers will be credited with that amount as their share in the enterprise on which they will get interest from profits. The piggery will be of the most modern type, and should serve to demonstrate the best pig-raising methods. Profits, after deduction of reserves and interest on shares, will be disbursed in proportion to the amount of pig food supplied. Matiu Witana and Raphael Parker, with technical assistance from Alex Peri, are setting up a small sawmill that will be able to meet some of the local demand for timber. Father Wanders, local cutholic priest, greets the minister. Vegetable growing is expanding. A few more people from Mitimiti coastal settlement, notably George Leef and Akata Tahana, put potatoes in early to catch the best of the early market. Given enough shelter, the coast provides good vegetable-growing conditions throughout the year. Recreation, too, is a vital factor in community development. As part of the project, physical education experts from the Education Department attended a dance where they demonstrated new dances. Next day was given over to sports at Motuti.

Regular picture shows are held, the profits going to benefit the community. Market has been held every family benefit day and has been of special interest to the women folk who bring eggs, vegetables, cakes, fruits and nuts for sale to those who may have none of their own. Women from the Lower Waihou and Panguru branches of the Maori Women's Welfare League during the winter provided mid-day soup for the children attending Panguru convent. Many of these activities are important not only in the obvious aims but because of the fact that the people are interested and are responsible for such prograssive schemes. But after all, community development came to these people because they asked for it, it continues with them because they continue to want it. Mr William Noa inspects a new batch of library books. Librarian Susan Noa at work. During the recent visit to Panguru of the Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Corbett, a local chief, Pakihi Peita, asked the Minister to ensure that Mr Booth was not shifted in undue haste, and the matter was referred to in a memorandum submitted to the Minister. Progress in the project has come well up to the expectations. But the project is still an experiment—an experiment undertaken on the advice of a qualified social scientist, as a tryout of a new pattern of work for the department and to gain knowledge to help the department in its work. After allowing sufficient time it is intended to estimate its worth and success in helping a community provide its members with a full and satisfying life. On that basis, a decision will be made as to whether the department should encourage community development schemes in other areas.