NEW HOPE COMES AS THE REMAINING LANDS ARE FARMED

Te Ao Hou, March 1959, Page 8

NEW HOPE COMES AS THE REMAINING LANDS ARE FARMED It now remains to examine the reasons why the Maori folk, in this district at least, have now become once more, a vigorous and progressive element in the district and study the part the school has played and will play in their future progress. Sir Apirana Ngata is regarded by the Maori people as the principal architect of the renaissance. His scheme for the development of Maori lands with capital provided by the Maori Affairs Department unlocked the remaining Maori lands throughout the country. European supervision brought innumerable Maori Blocks out of hitherto unmanageable debts incurred by litigation and the advent of the large incorporations brought improved and cheaper farming methods, while the development schemes worked miracles in building up a sturdy and dependable Maori farming community that rapidly gained their independence and their full share of what we like to term our ‘standard way of life’. The Ngati Porou north of Tolaga Bay had ample lands to derive the full benefit of Sir Apirana's enlightened policy, and the reason dates back to the time that Mokena Kohere refused to accede to Sir Donald Maclean's de-

mands for the larger portion of their lands. Several hundred thousand acres were yielded but the greater portion of the land was kept inviolate from sale through the years that followed. Dr Sinclair, author of this article, in his surgery at Toaga Bay (Kandid Kamera Kraft, Gisborne) The Maoris of the Tolaga Bay district were apparently outside the ‘rohe’ or district. They therefore had no lands to develop under Sir Apirana's scheme but the remainder of their lands were mostly in either the Whangara Incorporations or the East Coast Commission and both of these concerns were brilliantly administered and began to pay increased dividends to the owners over the years. The Anaura Block was similarly administered by the Tairawhiti Maori Land Board and the trustees of the Waru Estate salvaged and successfully developed the lands under their control. The story of these people has been the story of their lands; as the lands disappeared so did the people, and as the lands prospered so did the people. Sir Apirana Ngata played his part in the district by religiously attending the annual general meetings held by the owners of the various blocks and his advice was in most cases regarded as an order. He gave great moral support to the people when he attended the various great huis held by the people. His personality was amazing and his talents unlimited. He was to be seen at his best when in the midst of his people, single-handedly coping with the multtudinous affairs of Master of Ceremonies at some great hui wherein thousands of his Maori people would be continually de-lighted by his dry wit, kept applauding the excellence of the entertainment provided by his tribal teams, and stimulated by the general excellence of his own contributions, whether topical or traditional. The Maori in Tolaga maintained a long tradition of mutually harmonious relations with the Europeans of their district, both at school and at work and they have benefited from this relationship. The principal reason that has prevented them from capitalising on these circumstances has been, fundamentally, the lack of sufficient land to maintain an independent and progressive rural farming community life. Inability to be able to create capital is a racial weakness and is amply demonstrated here. Once they have the land and the capital they are able to make progress in the modern competitive farming community. This is being fully borne out at Horahora and Manga-kino. (To be concluded in our next issue)