A Work of Rescue.

“I want the people on the land,” she said in answer to further questions. “I want land in order to draw my people back from Chinese gardens. Maori women are living with Chinese gardeners. I had some stolen from me at Ngaruawahia. If the men cannot get a living many of them go to the Chinese. There are about 400 of my people at the Chinese gardens around Auckland, and 300 at Pukekohe. They have gone there to work because they need food and clothing. My scheme will help to bring people back to their land.”

It was shown in evidence that the Maoris most cheerfully worked on the land when they saw a prospect of earning a living from it. At Waipipi (South Manukau) actually only six men out of twenty-seven were on the pay-sheet; the others worked simply for their food; the little community lived on the wages paid to six. But they worked happily all day long; the spirit of co-operation was perfect.