COMMUNITY FARMING

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1933, Page 6

COMMUNITY FARMING

MAORIS. IN THE KING COUNTRY

INTEREST IN WHEAT-GROWING

(Per Press Association — Copyright.)

TE KUITI, January 28

There was a gathering of about 250 .followers of Rat-ana at the Maori p ;i , 'V Kuiti, to-day to celebrate the establishment of the" Ratana Church. Them celebrations ar e held locally instead of .at Ratana, owing to the saving to the Maoris,

The proceedings opened with an impressive church service, after which matters of interest to the natives were discussed. The petition of Ratana that - the 1 Treaty of Waitangi be -observed on all points wer e heartily endorsed. The rest of th (v proceedings were devoted to plans for community fa-mu ng ■and it was .decided wheat-grow-ing should be developed. T hoie are 100 acres planted in wheat between •T? Kuiti and Te Awamutu, all cultivated by Maoris, and ,th P crops are turning out wel]. Already 300 acres -are down in the Northern Kim; Country. One lot of 65 acres, near T P Kuiti, i„ estimated to yield 25 bushels an a cr e . and there is no (sign -of disease. .After a long discussion a committee •wa s Ret up to -'ascertain- whether it ’woulfl'"be' possible to-liav( J '. front 900 to 1000 acres planted in wheat next year by Maoris.. . If.ijliN.,c°uld.. be done it was proposed to form a company to erect- a- milling-plank