MAORI FARMERS.

Shannon News, 25 June 1929, Page 3

MAORI FARMERS.

ADVANCE IN DAIRYING. GOOD RESULTS IN NOBTH. Dargaville, June 11. "At the small cost of a sum not exceeding £4OO another 1000 Maoris families could become suppliers to the chief co-operative dairy factories of North Auckland," said Mr. C. J. Hamblyn, fields instructor for the Department of Agriculture for North Auckland, who visited Dargaville with Judge F. O. V. Aeheson, president of the Native Lands Board, on business in connection with the making of advances to establish Maoris on their own lands in this district.

Since the scheme for the consolidation of titles in North Auckland has been put in hand a number of Maoris have been given financial assistance to enable them to work their land. They are encouraged to purchase a good class of stock and 7iioncy is found for the purchase of manure.-;. The applicant does not handle the cash, for his stock and manures are bought for him. If drainage, stumping or clearing is 'necessary, he has to make a requisition for the amount he needs, which is paid only after the work has been certified by the fields instructor, in conjunction with the Maori Lands Board.

"I am rvcry keen on the placing of as many Maoris as possible on their farms," said Mr. Hamblyn. "Tin northern Maori is a good worker. We take an order for twenty-five per cent, of their cream* cheques, which repays principal and interest, and the results have ' been / most, encouraging. In one instance an advance of £3OO was made, and' £250 was repaid in the first season—but that man was milking eighty cows. Incept that delays occur in the Native Affairs Department, after loans have been authorised —delays which have in some instances meant the loss of a whole season—'the scheme is. working well. At the end of last season 550 natives suppliers had contributed nearly 750,0001 b of butter-fat to the chief co-operatives in the north. Apart from the smaller factories there were supplying 'Northern Wairoa factories 43 natives, with a total of 60,060 lb of fat; Hikurangi, 156 natives, 250,0001 b; Bay of Islands, 51 suppliers, 90,0001 b; Kaitaia, 120 .suppliers, 200,000 lb; Hokianga, 100 suppliers, 120,0001 b; Whangarei, 53 suppliers, 60,0001 b." The value of the butter-fat supplied to Northern Wairoa factories in /the 1927-28 season was £53,000. Owing to better farming methods, better stock and the provision of financial assistance this amount will be eclipsed by the total for the season just closed.