NATIVE LANDS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 85, 7 October 1931, Page 11

NATIVE LANDS

DEVELOPMENT WORK

FRESH LIFE FOR MAORIS

: The hope of being able to utilise their own land has put fresh life into the hearts of tiic Maori people, according to a Native Affairs Department report submitted to Parliament last night. The main activity of the Department has been in promoting the development of land owned or occupied by tho Maoris (states the report). The Department was granted by Parliament the sum of £77,770 for such purposes. As -a. consequence, the schemes reported last year have- been extended, and at 31st March last there were •twenty-nine schemes in progress. The main details of their progress will be submitted in a separate report to Parliament. It is patent to even a casual observer that the hope of being able to utilise their own lands has put fresh life and vigour into the Maori race. Forty years ago the lato Sir- James Carroll (a member of that race) penned worda that were pregnant with truth when h'c pleaded that Parliament should not omit to dovise means for encouraging and assisting the Maoris to become useful settlers. This, he said, could bo done if tho Maoris were; afforded facilities for rondering productive the lands they already possessed, whereas no attempt had theretofore been made to educate them in acquiring industrial knowledge- oi* to direct their attention to industrial pursuits.' This is tho policy that is now being followed out.

Civilisation brought to tho Maori many blessings, but wo are too apt to forget that they wore extremely expensive benefits to the Maori people— a race with ample land, but no money to pay for its proper utilisation and development. . Those who hold farm lands to-day can visualise their present helplessness in tho face of a worldwido economic crisis as being the chronic position of the Maori jjeoplo.

It is frankly admitted that there have- been cases where Maoris have sold part of their land and have spent tho proceeds foolishly for want of proper guidance and control. Now that a concerted attempt is being made to educate them to acquire industrial knowledge and to undertake responsi-' bilitics in farming their land under proper supervision by the supply of their needs for fencing material, manures, and stock, they themselves supplying tho necessary labour, it is hoped that habits of thrift and caution will come with it. An illustration of tho enthusiasm upon tho subject is instanced in tho young Maori who wrote to tho Department asking that he might bo supplied with a translation into tho Maori language of all there was to learn about farming, so that he could study it in anticipation of the time when ho would receive assistance. Tho only drawback is the limit of finance, but possibly in the early stages this has its advantages iv that only those who have proved themselves can be given assistance. ■As time goes on it is.hoped that others will benefit out of the repayment of the past, advances. The principal outlet for the Maori has been dairying, and hero the Department endeavours to make certain that only the best stock is secured for him, realising , that it costs just as much to feud and caro for poor stock which gives much less satisfactory returns. This necessitated the establishment of "holding farms" where stock is eared for after purchase until required by the particular dairy farmer. Stock is only entrusted to those found capable of properly caring for it. If a Maori shows want of diligence he has to make way for others who are only too anxious to prove that they can make good. Tho nature of tho assistance or the character of tho industry to be undertaken depends on tho report of the Department's exports-upon the laud affected.