STRIKING GROWTH IN MAORI FARMS

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 42, 1 June 1965, Page 11

STRIKING GROWTH IN MAORI FARMS

A striking picture of Maori land development in the large area administered from the Rotorua office of the Maori Affairs Department was given by the department's district officer, Mr J. H. W. Barber, in an address to the Putaruru Rotary Oub

His office administered 36 Maori land development schemes which would winter 150,000 ewes this year and provide about 250,000 sheep for shearing, stated Mr Barber. . Thousands of acres had j been and were being brought j into production by the department for their Maori owners. "We run on a strictly profit and loss basis and every penny is a charge on the land," he explained. "For every pound spent we expect a pound in value." The same care was taken j in farm management, and j stock losses on all the j schemes this year totalled ! only about four per cent., he commented. "There have been a number of failures, and we have learned from them. Now we 1 'vet' settlers in the same way as Crown land settlers, and production figures show that they are not doing too badly." The transformation of idle | Maori lands was good for j the area in terms of production and in terms of rates, Mr Barber added. In the vicinity of Rotorua well managed incorporations of Maori owners were making good profits and using them for education and sensible Maori purposes and in j dividends, said Mr Barber. Among the more recent j incorporations referred to by the speaker was that at Tuaropaki, near Mokai, where 59 titles covering 6,700 acres had been amalgamated. Development of the land, formerly scrub, tussock and bush, had begun in 1953. It was not all in grass and had a manager' s and shepherds' houses, shearere' quarters and a woolshed. It ] was well fenced, watered j and roaded and this winter I it was carrying 16,100 ewes j and 1,200 breeding cows. In April, 1964, the net ] debt was only £15 per acre, a very good result, said Mr Barber. Last year the profit was £19,500 and it was hoped to make £30,000. On this basis in five years there would be no excess debt on the property except for the value of stock and chattels, and it would then be able to pay dividends to the owners. Another Maori Affairs De-

partment farming operation was at the Kokako block, ; near Lichfield. Here about 5,000 ewes were being wintered on 1,200 acres. It was proftt-making and with more fertiliser would carry in- | creased stock. I The Pouakani scheme at I Mangakino was carrying 28 | dairy farmers, Mr Barber ? stated. In the past year j butterfat production had in- J creased by 52,5661b to I 444,9271b, the top farmers j being Messrs K. Ahipene I and A. L. Parker. Near Tuaropaki about j 12,000 acres had been amal- j gamated from 65 titles. ] Development work began a j year ago and it was planned j to grass 1,500 acres annually. j It was good, easy country j and would come into produc- j tion economieally in about j the same period as Tuaropaki. i Although major land de- ; velopment was being under- 1 taken in the west Taupo j area by the Government, two blocks of land were awaiting development by his depart- j ment, said Mr Barber. j Shortage of funds was the j problem and it was not j likely that they would be available from the Government in the next five years. Top priority for development was given the department for 20,000 acres about flve miles from Taupo on the Napier highway. A total of 1,036 Maori owners had varying shares in one title but capital funds were fully committed this year, and a start even next year would depend on what assistance would be given by the Government. !