NATIVE AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 22457, 30 September 1936, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS

ANNUAL REPORT Of BOARD MARKED INCREASE IN PASTORAL OPERATIONS rPnoa Oub Paketauentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 29. “ The impact of Western civilisation lias wrought many changes on the communal system of ancient Ma/oridom, but the influence, prestige, and mana of chieftainship is still a dominant force, and to-day the recognised leaders of the people are united in their desire to emulate their European neighbours in the art of agriculture,” states Mr Savage (Minister of Native Affairs), in the report of the Board of Native Affairs, presented to Parliament to-day

The outstanding feature of the year’s activities was the marked increase in the volume of production, both from dairying and pastoral operations on State development schemes controlled by the board which, combined with the upward trend in prices, resulted in the revenue receipts from butterfat, Wool, live stock, and other produce reaching the satisfactory total of £129,787, in comparison with £79,216 for the previous season, an increase of 63.8 per cent. The department’s share of the cream returns, usually one-third of the total output, amounted to £51,334, an increase of £20,447 over the previous year. Wool sales realised £11,656, as compared with £6,346 for 1934-35, and the proceds from live stock wore £55,753, whereas in the previous year returns from sheep and cattle sold amounted to £30,041. To-day there are 73 State schemes in the North Island and three in the South Island for settlement of Native lands, and -these schemes embrace a total area of 668,885 acres, of which 161,941 acres are in various stages of development. The number of individual units already established at March 31, 1930, was 1,388. It is estimated that these settlers, combined with share milkers, farm hands, and other workers, support a total populasion of 11,023 dependents.