MAORI GIRL DOMESTICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 10

MAORI GIRL DOMESTICS.

DISCUSSED IN CONFERENCE. AUCKLAND, February 27. At the Te Aute Conference Mr J. Thorn* • ton referred to the resolution passed &i the last conference in favour of the employment of Maori girls as domestic- 6revants, , and again raised the question. Mr Bennett said that ho was opposed to the experiment as a whole. Though the main principle of providing another avenue of employment was good, he could see gray« danger, unless the greatest care was exer- - cised in placing the girls in good, Christian households. Dr Rangi Hiroa was also opposed to making educated girls from Hukarere and Victoria Girls' College domestic servants. Ho objected to their being made to occupy lowly positions in European households. The Rev. Mr Maunsell said ] that the experiment was very risky, but i those who had drawn up the resolution had carefully guarded against risk by specifying the kind of household. He referred tothe stops taken to get Native girls into service at Auckland. Great interest had been taken in the girls, who appeared very pleased with their surroundings.

Opossums are reported to be very numerous about Colao Bay, where the Natives lomplain of their depredations in the sardena—in fact, they are talking of ffottin£ their member (Mr T. Parata) to urge that there should be an open season. .