MENACE DISREGARDED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 730, 1 August 1929, Page 8

MENACE DISREGARDED

Sir.— Auckland people must be astonished at the exposure, by members of the I Maori Association, of the conditions existing in Chinese gardens near the city. The surprising thing is that the . Government is so slow to move after : the definite statements concerning the unfortunate cohabitation of young Maori women with these Asiatics. Even Sir Apirana Xgata’s masterly speech in the House of Itepresentatives has drawn nothing more from the House than one or two expressions of regrt 1 There is no doubt that action to save this section of the Maori women is wanted promptly. As it is. these 'vo men—-onw unav<* i d n b! v—e o n tit u t e a serious menace to their own race. They have to be saved from them-

selves. For a Government to neglect this degradation of a native race is nothing short of a disgrace. Meanwhile, the pleas of the Maori societies of the country, and even the bald statements of fact from men like Sir Apirana Ngata. are falling on deaf ears. Yet these members of Parliament have the sordid story told to them in official statistics. They are overlooking the increases ?n half-caste Asiatics, and are blissfully forgetful of the growing element of an unwanted people in New Zealand. Not the least serious aspect of the position is the canvassing for native women to work for these Chinese by unprincipled Maori women. Europeans reassure themselves that Maoris and Chinese are much the same in nationality. But the Maori is not Mongolian in character. Instead, history shows us that he comes from the basic stock of the Caucasian peoples. HOAPURA.