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Te Ao Hou, April 1958, Page 14

When George Turner was out of earshot busying himself with some fencing posts, a departmental officer added something to the story which the modest farm manager would not have included. “You know,” said the officer, “the owners of this block appreciate very much what George is doing for them and the amount of work which he has put into their land. They have been out several times and had a look.” In 1961 the block will be cut up into four dairy farms and two sheep runs. The owners have nominated several young men to take over the units. They are scattered throughout the country from Taranaki to Tokaanu and some are already attending agricultural colleges in preparation for the day when the occupiers will be chosen. At present the hardest job which the department has at Paewhenua is to get George Turner to take a holiday. His excuse is always that he has something to do on the farm. Although some people say he “kills himself with work,” his tall, lean sinewy frame suggests that he has benefited from a life spent milking cows in his own tribal territory at Pirongia, working on the railway in the Glen Murray district, bushfalling in the summer and wielding a shovel for the Works Department in the winter, and now breaking in land for his own Maori people. But the day will come when George Turner will not be able to work as hard as he used to. Somebody has suggested that it would be a suitable gesture to a man who has ungrudgingly given years of his life to working hard to help others, if some of the people who are fortunate enough to own land, set aside a few acres for George to enjoy in his retirement. It would certainly be a small enough reward for the benefits which his example and energy have brought to the Maori people and New Zealand. George would then be able to grow hi potatoes instead of having to buy them. And, if h can find some idle moments, he will then be able to smoke his pipe round the camp fire. ⋆ ⋆ ⋆