SHORT OF FOOD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1812, 19 July 1906, Page 3

SHORT OF FOOD.

GOVERNMENT HELP.

Referring to reports from the Waikftto that famine exists among Waikato natives owing to foihno of their potato oropa, tho Minister for Native Affaire states that tho Government hae token the following Btops to alloviato the distress : —Socd potatoos woro boiDg distributed among tho nativoa who nro suffering, and tho potatoos oboßon would ho tho Houndaet and most blightreeisting available. While tho proaout price of potatoes would limit the oxtont of this supply, the Government would do tho best it could in tho eiroumstanooo, Tho Government was also importing fiom America and from tho Oook Islands seed of the kurnara (or sweet potato), which would grow very well in tho northorn distriets, though not so woll in tho odder parts. As tho sweet potato, as far as they could ascertain, was not euhjeot to blight, it should prove n happy substitute. The natives in tho north still grow lots of kumaras, and fresh samples from outsido should bo an improvement. In addition to a supply of send potatoos, indigents I among tho Waikato natives were supplied with rations, Ovor 200 Maoris were cm* ployed on public works in different parts of tho ooloDy. With a viaw to encouraging tho Maoris to grow other vegetables than potatoos, seeds of parsnips, turnips, ODions, pumpkins, end so forth wore being distributed amoDg native schoolmasters, so that tho natives may not bo entirely dependent on potatoos, whioh results havo shown to bo so sueoeptiblo to bligh attack