New Zealand's Champion Maori Farmer

Chronicle (Levin), 11 June 1949, Page 3

New Zealand's Champion Maori Farmer

WELLINGTON, June -10. Tlie Bletlisloe Ahuwhenua trophy, a silver cup presented by Lord Bledisloe in Deeember 1932 for annual eompetition aniongst Maori farmers on Maori .land development scheme, has been awarded this year to Mr Eruera Hoera, of Takahue, Kaitaia. ^ Second place was awarded to Mr Wa erata Harris, of Tarata, Taranaki, who has a small but highly productive farm where once weeds were in full control. Mrs E. F. Clexofents, of Tauranga, was awarded third place and she too has brought into high._ production an area fOrmei'ly aibandbned to Weeds. . Special mention was made of a cow shed on the property of Mr Paul Toroa, of Ruatoria, who was placed fourth. The judge, Mr A. V. •' Allp, of the Department of Agriculture, said it .was the cleanes't he had ever seen and that it was an outstanding example of a thorj oughly well kept dairy slied. Ln 'announcing ..the results to-night, the Mmister of Maori Affairs, Mr Eraser, said that in the opinion of the judge, Mr Hoera. had done an exception ally good job in br'eaking in a farm from standing bush./'The assistance he has received linancially from the Department of Ma'ori Affairs, has been comparatively little, ' ' said Mr Fraser. "All of his debts have been repaid while he has a subStantial sum to his credit. The work has mostly been done single handed and the farm to-day could be regarded with pride by any farmer in the Dominion." The judge described Mr Hoera 's farm as easilyr the most diffieult piece of country farmed by any of the competitor's. The standard of pasture and pasture management and quality of stock were of a very high order indeed.