made for harmony among all. Many incorporations today are able to make use of the administrative training of some younger members of their tribe to whom responsibility can be handed over. One of these younger helpers is Mr Bert Kingi, secretary of the Okere Incorporation. (PHOTO: PETER BLANC) However, the spirit of co-operation is by no means dead. On our second visit to Rotoiti we found Peter Whata, with at least twenty others between the ages of five and fifty at the Taheke Incorporation's woolshed, helping to sort out the fat lambs. In charge was the chairman of the incorporation. Mr Mapu Morehu, who described the station's policy to us. It was to develop about 130 acres of new land each year, and as far as possible to breed their own sheep and cattle. Once the fat lambs were selected, the rest were held to be sold as hoggets. All the best of the ewe lambs were kept for breeding. We asked Mr Morehu whether he thought the future of all the young people we saw on the station was on their ancestral land. ‘If you have a trade or profession, then go to town,’ said Mr Morehu, ‘but if you will be a labourer, then stay in the country. Naturally, however, education and business ability are essential for those who manage and own farms.’ The Rotoiti incorporations give a good deal to the younger people, appointing them, for instance, to posts of responsibility in the administration. Secretary of Okere incorporation is Bert Kingi, a young public servant, appointed for his administrative experience, although there is a large number of older owners. Undoubtedly this policy will help to provide future leaders for Ngati Pikiao.

TRIBESMEN GET THEIR OWN FARMS Wherever possible, individual farmers were settled as lessees or owners. There were altogether 6,000 acres near the lake, either leased or sold to Europeans and then recovered by the Maori owners with finance provided by the State. The areas were farmed by the Department of Maori Affairs for a while until the debt on the blocks was repaid and in 1954 the owners took over and subdivided the land into unit farms settled by families, in many cases of returned servicemen. Seven Ngati Pikiao ex-servicemen were settled on another Rotoiti block under Rehabilitation. This block of 3,446 acres bought by the Crown in 1948, was originally part-Maori and part-European land. The Maori part was sold to the Crown on condition that only Ngati Pikiao servicemen would be settled. A number of these who aspired to settlement worked on the scheme during the development stages, but final settlement had to be, according to the Rehabilitation system, by ballot. Of the men settled, one (Mr T. R. Kingi) won last year's Ahuwhenua Trophy competition for sheep and cattle, and another (Mr E. C. Pohio) became second in the same competition. Mr Foley Eru, of Horohoro, winner of the 1956 Ahuwhenua Dairy Trophy, also has Ngati Pikiao affiliations. What happened at Lake Rotoiti happened also in many other parts of New Zealand. Right through the country, Maori farmers, often quite independent of State aid, are tilling their own land and safeguarding it for their children. Standing above the Takeke woolshed, you can see most of Lake Rotoiti. (PHOTO: PETER BLANC)