MAORIS IN WANT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1933, Page 8

MAORIS IN WANT

BLIGHT IN'. POTATO CROPS. . LACK OF EMPLOYMENT. ROTORUA, March 6. With their Tiia-.n source of food supply ifuxr.ed by blight, the Maoris in the Ruatahuiia and, O n i'm districts are with dire ' straits in the ;comnxg winter unless some means me found to pliable them to earn sufficientmoney to cidis them over. Everywhere in the 'countryside, gay s the Rotor-ua ‘post, the potato crops uusuffering .from blight and th e blaeko ll c l haulms stand above rotting tubers. A prominent native stated the other dn\ Ithat unleiss something were found for ’them in the way of -work during the coming winter whole Emilies would bo faced with .starvation, for they were largely dependent upon their potato .crops, and though they had been hard put to it to livp last winter :they were now at the end of thentether.

Last year the, crops were fair and the Maoris 'then -had a severe-struggle and but for the assistance of the Public. .Works Department, who hi 33 placed about 50 of them on road widening jobs, they would have had no monry at all. As it, ; ’is they -have no word of any relief work, no- word of any assistance, from 1 the. Native Minister, nnu witih a dull resentment ar e . facing not ■•dire - poverty, for that is' -always with them, but sheer want." What little rrioney-’they ‘did get last winter hardy sufficed to carry them through the «n°w season, for the district —-situated in the back-country o-f the Whakatane County

oob'ect to--heavy snow-taIVS, De.-ng 1500 ft. above sea-level, and .stores are terribly dear.