MAORI SCHOLAR STUDIES LAND DEVELOPMENT

Te Ao Hou, December 1961, Page 16

MAORI SCHOLAR STUDIES LAND DEVELOPMENT Mr Hugh Kawharu, who did a research B.A. at Oxford University some years ago, has been on a full-time research job in New Zealand all this year. His research B.A. was gained with a thesis on the economics of Maori land tenure; the work he is doing now follows on from this and deals with the relation between Maori land tenure and community development. The research is being financed by the Food and Agricultural Organization, an international body linked with United Nations. This body awards fellowships known as Andre Mayer F.A.O. Fellowships to research students who are working on projects that will help increase food and agricultural production throughout the worldd. Mr Kawharu will give special attention to farm practice, farm finance, the promotion of self-help and mutual help in land use and the furtherance of community objectives. He hopes to find out precisely what role the owners play in land matters. By studying some communities at first hand he hopes to get a better understanding of inherent obstacles to more efficient land use and better community development. At the same time he is trying to determine community reactions to recent measures of state assistance. The study will be of value not only for an understanding of Maori land problems, but also for F.A.O. assistance programmes in underdeveloped countries.