MAORI FARMERS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 72, 27 March 1933, Page 9

MAORI FARMERS

AHUWHENUA TROPHY

AWARDS ANNOUNCED

The results of the first competition] for the Ahuwhenua Trophy, presented by the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) for competition by qualified Maoris occupying land under a Native developr I ment scheme administered under the Native Land Act, -were announced by the Minister of Native Affairs (the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata) at the weekend. The awards are:— William Swinton, of Kaukokore, 1; j Jack Black, of Ruatpki, 2; Tarewa Kopae, of 'Ruatoki, 3; James Swinton, of Eaukokore, highly recommended. The following received special mention: P. Mihaere, of Horo Horo; Te Katene, of Tikitere; and Charles Oneroa, of Horo Horo. Mr. W. Dempster, dairy instructor and grader for the Department of Agriculture at Hamilton, judged the entries.

The Ahuwhenua trophy was presented by his Excellency to commemorate his visit to lands in course of development by Maori settlers under various Native land development schemes in the Eotorua and Bay of Plenty districts. It was later agreed that the competition should be national, but that for the- first year it should bo confined to the Waiariki district. The cup is called Ahuwhenua, or Son-of-the-Soil Trophy, and an endowment fund of £100 was established by his Excellency for'the provision of medals for tho first and second prizewinners.

The judge takes into account good husbandry, economy of management, with a view to commercial profit, the cleanliness and neatness of the holding, the progress made by the farmer in tho development of his holding, tho supply of necessary seeds, fertilisers, and implements and other assistance received both before and during his occupancy.

In his report to the Director of the Dairy Division, Mr. Dempster states that ho visited 81 farms in the course of his judging. The farms visited extended from the Horo Horo block, at Rotorua, out to the Maketu block at Te Puke, and down tho coast to Cape Bunaway. In judging, ho states, he also took into consideration tho possibility of delivering a high standard quality of milk, or cream. After visiting all tho farms on tho Horo Horo block he came to tho conclusion that the settlers had,not had sufficient time to display their initiative, and ho had therefore selected three farmers on this Mock who had shown tho most initiative and placed them in order of merit.

, After an extensive review of what he terms the excellent work being done by the Native settlers, Mr. Dempster said the standard of cleanliness on the concrete floors, drains, and utensils, without a single exception on the Horo Horo block, was the highest ho had over seen in dairy herds. Taking the development scheme as a whole, he considered that even the most adverse critic would be silenced by making a personal inspection of the i-arious loealiticg."

The efforts of Mr. James Sxvinton, the winner, were'specially commended. It was considered that if this man could get more land he could show his undoubted ability as a. farmer to greater advantage.