TURNING OUT WELL

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 108, 31 January 1935, Page 10

TURNING OUT WELL

Mr. Forbes Pleased With Native Land Schemes

COMPLETION OF TOUR Prime Minister Receives Kiwi Feather Mat By Telegraph—Press Association. Rotorua, January 30. His six days’ tour of the Native land development schemes in tlie Taupo, Rotcrim and Bay of Plenty districts was completed to-day by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, in the capacity of Native Minister. With Sir Apirana Ngata. he motored from Te Kaha through Opotiki to Ruatoki, where the Urewera people are engaged on one of the largest schemes in the whole settlement undertaking. In the course of a ceremonial welcome at the village Mr. Forbes was presented with a kiwi feather mat; bordered with green and white feathers of other native birds, together with a finely-woven flax sleeping' mat in recognition of the fact that he is the first Prime Minister to visit the district. Mr. Forbes suitably acknowledged the gift. In 'the afternoon the Ministerial party was ferried across the Whakatane River and shown a large part of the scheme, including reconditioned pasture and fern land being brought in. for dairying. The scheme has 4000 acres under grass, and is farmed by 135 families, who milk 2000 cows and supply both butter and cheese to the factory. “Put New Heart Into Maoris.” Before leaving for Rotorua and Web lingtou, Mr. Forbes said he was very satisfied with what he had seen. He was sure that if anyone who had any doubts of the wisdom of the Native settlement policy had done likewise he would say that policy was a wise one. It put new heart into the Maoris, who formerly were faced with unemployment, and offered them greater opportunities for themselves and’their child; ren. , The way they were responding was a very hopeful sign, showing that they realised that farming offered a home and a future. No complaints had been made that tlie supervisors required too much hard work. The only complaints, in fact, were that more lands and people could not be brought into the schemes at the present time. Tire Maoris had given him very warm welcomes. Mr. Forbes said, and showed that they were most willing to work under tlie supervisor’s directions and accept advice and assistance. He was more than satisfied with, the results to date, which showed that the so-called “doubtful experiment” was turning out well, MAORI LAND PROBLEM Serious Position of East Coast Natives SIR A. NGATA’S ADDRESS By Telegraph—Press Association. Opotiki, January 30. The problem of Native, landlessness in the Eastern -Bay of Plenty between Opotiki and Cape Runaway, was emphasised by Sir Apirana Ngata during the Rt. Hon. G: W. Forbes’s tour of the district as Native Minister yesterday. Speaking at Omarumutu village, Sir Apirana said that the coastal people, though rich on pnper, had only enough usable land for the present population without providing for the natural increase, which was considerable. They were imprisoned between the sea and barren mountains and could not be squeezed out at either end because the Urewera and East Coast tribes would not have them. The only way of providing for the surplus was to place them on the pumice lands of the Arawa ri Mr Forbes, addressing the people, said that if tlie area was limited, it should be possible to develop it all under the present schemes. What provision the Government made tor the surplus population would depend on tlie efforts of tlie people themselves. Mr. Forbes left this morning for Rotorua, via Ruatoki.