MAORI FARMERS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 10, 27 January 1937, Page 15

MAORI FARMERS

Government Scheme For Devoloping Land L0ANS T0 0WNERS A review of the work being accomplished by the Board of Native Aifa-irs in the matter of developingi and improving Maori land for the immediate and future settlemeut of natives. was given by the aeting-Minister of Native Affairs, the Hon. F. Langstone, when interviewed at Dargaville. The Minister said that under proper supervision the Maori made a very capable farmer. The general practice had once beefi for the Maori to sell his lands and live on the proceeds, said Mr Langstone. That custom had been inimicai to the Maori and unsatisfactory to the pakeha, settlers. Arising out of the econo-> mic depression a difficult policy had to be pursued, as in many cases the Maoris were receiving little rent from the leased lands, while the areas st-ill held were in an undeveloped state. Thus tho welfare and future of the Maoris became a serious problem. "To-day we have a Board of Native Affairs, through which eyery endeavour is being made to encourage direct and assist the Maoii people in cultivafcing their remaining land," said Mr Langstone. ' 'The board is empowered to make loans to native farmers' against the security of the land, and, if deemed necessary, a collateral se--curity may also be effected to include other assets which the native may possess. Under this scheme there are already 1388 natives with 9600 dependents farming their own holdings. There are also the 3300 natives employed on the development schemes. Th© eystem is achieving splendid reBults." PROGRESS OF SCHEME The Minister said that development was undertaken in blocks, the necessary money for materials, buildings and live stock being taken from loan tnoneys, with assistance whera necessary for labour costs from unemployment funds. The most competent men were selected as occupiers, and tho board retained full' control over theirfarming activities until the debt against their land had been eliminated. The scheme also facilitated dealing in Maori land titl^s, Mr Langstone said. It did not matter how many infcerests were included in an ai-ea brought under the development scheme as it was developed as a block and allocated to an approved occupier. who put aside a portion of his receipts to tneefc the various charges occurring. After mortgage dues had been met the rents were paid to tlie beneficiary ownwns of the land in proportion to their respective interests. This obviated the clashing of interests and tk« costf of securing native land. The Maoris requested that further blocks be taken over, as they saw the work proceeding in euch an impressiva fashion INCREASED RETURNS FROM LAND At present 668,885 acres had been gazetted under the scheme, and 161,941 acres were under active development. There were 81,383 sheep and 24,056 cows on the areas. In 1930-31 the receipts from the fai'ms were only £5547, whereas by 1935-36 they had increased to £129,787. The amount spent since the inception of the schemes was £1,467,160, and gross receipts, including unemployment subsidies, wer© £721,796, leaving a net liability pf £745,364.' Between April and September of last year £93,900 was paid in wages to natiyes employed. About a third of the adult male Maoris in the Dominion Were now receiving direct assistance from some form of land development, so it would be realised that a very genuine effort was being made to cope with the Maori problem.