Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 814, 7 November 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

“PETROL FOR CLEANING” Sir, — “A Sorrowful New Zealander” should make sure of liis ground before expressing his idea of the case decided at the Police Court concerning the theft of benzine for cleaning clothes. Thefts of benzine had been going on for some weeks and cast a slur on the 70-odd workmen on the job. Hence an example was made when a man was seen taking petrol. ONE WHO KNOWS. JUSTICE OR NOT? Sir, — I was surprised and disgusted to read in your valuable paper of the sth inst. that at Eltham an airman and his mechanic were fined for “going up” and taking passengers on a Sunday, and on the same date the New Zealand Railways (mind you, a Government concern) advertise cheap Sunday trips to Hamilton. Now either justice or the law is at fault. Which? Those who make the laws, it seems, are the first to break them. What will be the end c . it all? 8.8. TRAFFIC CONTROL Sir, — I am in full sympathy with “Whippet Four” in his complaint about the attitude taken up by some of the men engaged in the above duties in this city, when a breach or alleged breach is made by a motorist. Th* ; r aggressive manner inclines on« to suspect that it must be part of instruction given them by the department concerned, viz., to treat all motorists as felons. It is pretty certain that to report personally the type of man referred to by “Whippet Four” would bring about a policy of reprisals; at all events, I know from discussions with other motorists that this opinion is held by many. It is obvious that very few complaints are made, or, if made, very little notice is taken of them, or surely there would be some change for the better in the conduct and attitude generally of these men toward the motorist. The annoying part of the business is that, with a few exceptions, and one very outstanding one, the signalling to traffic is the most inefficient and confusing that could possibly be imagined. Frequently

when seated with others in a car we have been unanimous, that it was impossible to say definitely whether traffic was being waved on or stopped, and if the driver with a desire to avoid a charge of holding up traffic interprets the signal wrongly, he is liable to be “bailed up” and subject to abuse similar to that described by your correspondent, but frequently more so. By the way, I have noticed that during rain, when visibility was bad, a time when above all others the traffic control should be at his post, I have seen him sheltering in some doorway letting the traffic take care of itself. Are such men physically fit for the job? During the war we heard a good deal about Prussianism in Germany, and it seems to me we have this undesirable feature personified in excelsis in some of the men engaged in point duty in Auckland. The change back to having the traffic controlled by the police, or by some mechanical system, and the traffic gentlemen complained of made to find a job more in keeping with their temperament, is long overdue. On account of the opportunities available for reprisals, I am obliged to use a nom de guerre, but enclose my card. BUMBLE. MAORIS AND CHINESE Sir, — I desire to pass comment on the statements made by the Rev. A. J. Seamer in The Sun on Saturday last. With his statement that Maori women work in Chinese gardens because there is no other suitable employment offering I agree, but he is wrong when he states that there are very few single women working there. He may be correct in districts outside of Auckland but there is or has been up till very recently quite a number of young native women working in Chinese gardens in Panmure, parts of New Lynn and in Onehunga. The accusations made by the Akarana Maori Association are not unfair, and I think the association is to be congratulated and supported in its stand. To show that the Chinese are a menace we have these things to consider: Chinese have been known to visit the homes of Maoris canvassing for young women to work in their gardens. There is the case of a family who endeavoured to obtain emr'-yment in Panmure, the wife and daughters being offered the work while the husband was not. I know* a young native girl who went into a certain fruit shop in Auckland to purchase some oranges. After

some discussion the Chinese asked heP to visit him in the evening. Another young Maori girl, related to me, working for some Europeans in one tithe suburbs, when a Chinese vegetable merchant called at the door* After making some purchases tne young lady put out her hand for tne change, asking at the same time tn cost of the articles. The Chin after first trying to grasp the hand, replied, “That will be noth®* Just give me kiss.” He even to leave until the girl call her mistress. These cases ■■ to me significant in themselves, 1188 it is high time that Maori women protected from this class of P^ rs< ** who would not dare to approach re spectable white women in the sain manner. That the girls are troubiea with Europeans is certainly true an bad enough, but the contact w itn Asiatics is a thousand times ™' OTS ~m It cannot be denied that the union o Chinese and European, no matter no respectable the parties may be, * s looked upon with favour by society, and it is the same with to Maori. I certainly agree that j llO . of the Maori women employed L gardens are honest, hardworking aw respectable, but there is quite a nun*" her who have fallen into disgrace 'Vi Chinese. We cannot always the girls. With regard to Mr. SeaD U, not being competent to express opinion, he criticised the Akarana Mao Association too harshly. If l l .® sU -„a gests that he knows the Maori P° of view better than the Maoris th®*U selves, lie is mistaken. The of him being a European proves t . Of course if he is a. Maori that aite the case. T L. G. KELL"