CHINESE AND MAORI GIRLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 743, 16 August 1929, Page 1

CHINESE AND MAORI GIRLS

Inquiry Commission Likely SIR APIRANA NGATA’S APPEAL SUCCESS will be nearer the efforts of social organisations if a commission inquires into the results of the cohabitation of Maori women with Asiatics, in the opinion of Te Akarana Maori Association. There is now an expectation that the commission will be formed.

The Sun yesterday published a meaage mentioning the possibility of a commlasion, and stating that the position had been found to be worse than ini been expected. Officials of the association understand that Sir ApiNgata is urging the commission. His speech before Parliament early in the session on the evils of Asiatic influence among the Maoris is regarded as a preliminary to an active appeal. Hast evening dissatisfaction was expressed by the association because of the continued admittance of Asiatics tn New Zealand. The association vants drastic legislation to exclude Asiatics, and several resolutions in that strain have gone to the Government The growing Asiatic element in Xew Zealand’s population and the degradation to the native race are the tain few ß oI social workers. ORGANISATIONS' EFFORTS The Akarana Association. North Auckland Chieftains, the Treaty of Waitangi. Maori Welfare League, and the Maniapoto (Waikato) District Maori Council have all investigated rhe Asiatic menace. Now, the National Council of Women is interested, and

the association has appointed Mrs. Mary Bennett and Mrs. Maewa Kailiau as delegates to discuss social questions with the council. The opinion in Auckland is that a commission's investigations would lead to legislation to control the problem. Complaints have come from Auckland principally. They have not been based on isolated cases; there has been an undiminishing stream of cases where young Maori girls are employed by Chinese under dubious circumstances. Those interested believe that if the commission is set up it will learn of specific cases of degradation, of the canvassing for girls to accept employment with Chinese, and of the enticing terms offered. Investigators have proof of the complaints. Many of the cases are sordid in the extreme and the view taken by social workers is that Europeans should be the first to save an unfortunate section of the Maori race. Had it not been for the efforts and the appeals of the Akarana Association over a long period, the public would still be ignorant of what is undoubtedly a growing and undesirable factor in New Zealand.