Hurumua Block Will Be Busy Centre Of Maori Primary Industry

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 3, 2 December 1947, Page 5

Hurumua Block Will Be Busy Centre Of Maori Primary Industry

Hurumua, the training farm for Maori ex-servicemen, which is being converted now into fourteen individual holdings for Maori returned men, was purchased by the Crown three years ago last April from Mr A. T. Carroll for the settlement of Maori ex-servicemen of the Wairoa district, and its administration was taken over in July of that year by the Native Department as the Rehabilitation Board’s agent. It has since been used as a training farm for Maori ex-servicemen—-the first of its type in New Zealand —and has simultaneously with training operations, been prepared for final sub-dividing in readiness for the building of homes and the allotment by ballot of the sections included in it. This latter work has been made easier in that the 1800acre property, although it was before purchase a one-holding farm, was sub-divided and fenced by its original owner in such a way that very little adjustment of internal boundafies has been needed. All the land is highly productive. At present the property carries 2600 sheep, over 380 run cattle and almost 240 head of dairy stock, 70 pigs and eight horses. Its mixed crops include potatoes, maize, pump-

kins, tomatoes and asparagus. Last year 50 acres of maize yielded 3000 bushels; no maize is being grown this year owing to the property’s partial sub-division. Experiments now completed to the entire satisfaction of the Department have been carried out with the growing of asparagus and tomatoes, both of which crops have been found potentially profitable for future settlers producing them in conjunction with running sheep or cattle. A canning factory in the district has agreed to take all asparagus and tomato crops produced on the property during the next fifteen years. Last year 92 tons of tomatoes were taken from 18,000 plants; this year there are 25,000 plants, while 40 acres have been planted in asparagus. * All the men on the block have received a thorough and all-round training. For instance, for dairying the instructor was previously dairy farm manager at Massey Agricultural .College. All the trainees are members of the Young Farmers’ Club, and they have attended the field days arranged on various properties in the district. Those trainees whose homes are not in Wairoa are housed in oneman huts. Trainees run their own canteen and recreation room. They have formed their own tennis club. The successful ballottees will be allotted sections with a Crown lease in perpetuity, that is a renewable lease with perpetual right of renewal. The value of improvements will be sold on mortgage, and in the event of later sale by the settlers they will be allowed 100 per cent compensation.