MAORIS AND AMERICANS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 548, 13 July 1920, Page 2

MAORIS AND AMERICANS.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

INSULT AND INJURY

"Wonk" writes in the Observer;— George Mitchell, M.P., one-time colonel in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, has been telling a good story of late, anent the Americans and the Maoris. According to Mr. Mitchell, the Maoris and the Americans, or a part of them, came into close contact in an area over which he had control, 'ihe Americans could mot understand why the Maoris were allowed to mix freely with the white troops, and resented in particular the fact that Maoris irequented estaminets in which the Americans were wont to go for the French beer that swells out does not inebriate. Came the eve of Independence Day. An American went up 10 a Maori in the estaminet and told him that he guessed there would be no Maoris allowed in the estaminet on the following day. The Americans had put up with the intruders on ordinary days, but they were not going to bear them on Independence uay. Hone was curious. "Independence Day. What's him?' he asked. 'lndependence Day," the Yank explained, "was used for celebration of i the day when the Americans threw ' the British into the sea." Hone thought a moment. "That Independence Day, eh? Well this is the piurre night that the Maori throw the plinking Yank through the plurry window." And it was through the window that the American left the i estaminet that night.