HELPING THE NATIVE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 19, 13 April 1927, Page 11

HELPING THE NATIVE

A Northern Experiment

DEVELOPING WASTE LANDS

Whalers and traders working the New Zealand coasts during the ea *ly part of last century found the Maoris to be an industrious se f-supporting people. Well-tilled cultivation patches adjoined their pahs, and they were enabled to build up a large trade in cereals, kumaras and pork with the pakeha. Dressed flax, which was shipped ovsrseas, also constituted a large item of trade. Gradually, however, their interest in farming on their own account waned till at the beginning of this decade, many were in daiger of actual want. Fortunately for them there have been found men who are prepared to put time and labour into schemes which ain at starting the Maor; on a new era of prosperity, making him on:e again the self-reliant, industrious individual he was before the coming of the white man.

Right in the far north of the Auckland Province, in the midst of poor limestone hill country, lies the valley of Te Kao. It comprises over 1000 acres of rich swamp flat, running right down to the sea. So unproductive has it proved in the past, especially since

fortune has refused to smile on those engaged in the gum industry, that many ratives, born and reared in the district, have left for other fields, seeking a livelihood. It is at Te Kao that the Tokerau District Maori Lond Board, with Judge Aicheson , as guide and Instigator, has elected to make the first move In a scheme which, when ultimately extended to other parts of the Dominion, is confidently expected to bring the Maori into his own aga.n. It aims, in fact, to make him farm and develop his own lands. Empowered by the Government, the board is utilising certain reserve funds at its disposal to finance the work. All expenditure s supervised by the board’s officers, and a charge made against the land. Already a block of about 1000 acres at Te Kao has been consolidated Into sections averaging over 30 acres. The greater part of the land has been drained, and next season it is hDped to establish dairying among the natives. Several patches of maize were planted this season, and the balance of the consolidated country sown down in kikuyu grass in readiness for the coming of cows in the spring. Seed, stock, and implements are supplied by the board, and when the cream cheques •tart to come in, £ portion will be retained to help reduce the lien which Will have been placed upon the land. AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT HELPING The Agricultural Department is actively co-operating with the in wU work among the natives, and instructors pay regular visits to the settlement, while the Maoris are under the direct supervision of Mr. A. H. Watt, the district schoolmaster, who acts on behalf of the board. The scheme is the first of its kind commenced in recent years in the North Auckland district, and much •of the credit for its inauguration is due to Native Judge Aicheson, v.ho, in his capacity of president of the Native Land Court, has recognised the need for providing the Maori with a means «£ profitable occupation. ARCHBISHOP AVERILL'S IMPRESSIONS. A recent visitor to the settlement was Archbishop Averill. Speaking on his observations, the archbishop said that the experiment showed great promise. He Sitw large areas of land under m.iize, which ought to pay very well, while no doubt the usual Maori crops, such as kumaras, were cultivated. By being taught to put down portions of their land in grass, they would also,be given a practical illustration of the value of grazing paddocks for the use of cattle, with the result that the instinct for fanning would gradually be developed. If the policy were continued, the whole of the Te Kao Valley would prosper as it had never done before, and openings for the similar development cf other fertile valleys in the North would follow. "I am hopeful,” said Archbishop Averill, “that the Government will see its way to develop this agricultural work among the Maoris, for the successful sowing of the agricultural instinct in them would be the very best thing that could happen to them.” There is no doubt that the Maori can farm for a profit if he desires. This has been amply demonstrated in other parts of the Dominion. Perhaps no part of New Zealand is more intensely farmed than the little district of Te Kaha, a small area of terrace on the sea coast, about 00 miles down the Bay of Plenty from Opotiki, Owning little rent-bearing lands, the natives in these parts are forced to htrm the land adjacent to their pahs for a livelihood. Each cottage lias its

cultivation patch, strongly fenced to keep out the pigs, and kumaras, maize, and pumpkins are grown in large quantities. Practically all the tobacco used in the settlement is also grown by the natives. A community dlitter factory lias recently been established, and dairying is becoming a growing side-line. The cultivation patches are an object lesson to pakeha farmers in any part of the world, and, from the time the seed is sown, the land is kept tilled and clean in a manner which gives the crop every chance. WORK OF THE HON. A. T. NGATA Further round the coast, below Hicks’s Bay, in the Waiapu district, is one of the best lessons of what can be done by co-operative effort to be found anywhere in New Zealand. Here, as a result of practically a life’s work on the part of the Hon. A. T. Ngata,

the Maori has been launched on a new era of prosperity, and to-day practically the whole of one county is farmed solely by the Maoris. In all parts of that district, reaching down to Hawke’s Bay, are to be found Maoris farming individual holdings successfully. As a result of Mr. Ngata’s efforts, large areas of rich, fertile agricultural and pastoral country, formerly leased to the pakehas, are being taken over by the Maori owners at the expiration of existing leases, and, as it is consolidated, farmed by the individual owners. A huge sum of money, cows raised on the portion of the area concerned, and individual holders, financed into the purchase of cows, farm implements,, and everything necessary to start them in farming, with every chance of success. The whole scheme is controlled by a native committee, presided over by Mr. Ngata, and any native who it is considered will not prove a worthy farmer is refused assistance. Last season a modern butter factory was opened, and already the Maori suppliers are proving their worth as dairymen, and giving the lie to those pessimists who predicted failure. In the Hawke’s Bay and Wellington districts, also, the native has given satisfactory proof that he can handle farm property for profit. Given suitable areas, and started with first-class herds, there is every reason to expect that the native effort at Te Kao will prove worth while, and that the success gained there will encourage them to increased activity. Experiments of the Agricultural Department officials have proved the possibility of developing large areas of land now lying idle in the North. Who, therefore, should be more worthy of participating in its development than the Maori, a people who have proved their prowess as agriculturalists throughout the ages?