INACTIVITY CRITICISED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1033, 25 July 1930, Page 1

INACTIVITY CRITICISED

Maori-Asiatic Recommendations “PARTIAL” LAW CONTEMPLATED Move a Year After Inquiry A YEAR has passed since a Special Commission, set np at the instance of the Minister of Native Affairs, the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata, inquired into the living conditions of Maori women employed by Asiatics, but no legislation has been enforced by the Government, though the Commission presented recommendations for improvement in its official report. A prominent Auckland Maori, interviewed this morning, was not able to explain the Government’s inactivity.

The newest development in the question of miscegenation among Maoris and Asiatics, condemned by leading natives as a menace to tlxe racial life of the Maoris, is an intimation to the Akarana Maori Association from Sir Apirana Ngata, saying that “in regard to the employment of Maoris on market gardens, a regulation is being considered by the Labour Department that should partially meet the case.” An official of the association, representatives of which gave valuable evidence before the commission at its sittings in Auckland on conditions obtaining on Chinese market gardens in the vicinity of the city, expressed astonishment this morning at Sir Apirana Ngata’s reference to a regulation which “should partially meet the case.” The official wanted to know why legislation should not he enforced in accordance with the recommendations. He recalled that a witness of the association before the commission had been informed that the official investigations had revealed conditions bearing out the allegations of the association. The commission had spent considerable time visiting certain districts where complaints had been made, and, to say the least, it was remarkable that the Government bad neglected to put into effect the legislation advised by its official investigators. REPRESENTATIVE INQUIRY The members of the commission— Dr. T. J. Hughes, medical officer of health at Auckland; Mr. W. Slaughter, of the Labour Department; and Mr. T. Te Anga, of the Native Department —obviously had been chosen with the view of securing an inquiry valuable from all relative aspects. It was indeed hard to explain why utterly no action had been taken. “I maintain that the position objected to is as serious from the Maori point of view as at the time of the inquiry,” the official continued. “But one becomes accustomed to a dis-

tasteful position when one has taken nasty medicine for a long time. The association has repeatedly put the position before the Native Minister. Further than that, the association, though its representatives were important witnesses at the commission, has not been supplied with a copy of the full, report of the commission.” ASSOCIATION’S REPLIES In answer to Sir Apirana’s advice of the suggested regulation, the association has sent this message: “We are pleased at your advice that a regulation is being considered. We hope that there will be legislation which will be fully effective in dealing with the position. May we have the privilege of perusing the draft and offer any criticism we think proper? Our local knowledge of these questions cannot be without value in the subject. “Our request for a copy of the commission’s report so far has not been acceded to.” The official was definite that no improvement had been made in the living conditions of Maori women employed on the gardens of Chinese and Indians. Obviously, the position required even more urgent attention today than at the time last year when the association was agitating in the interests of the Maori race. Last evening, the Maori Association passed a resolution in these terms: "In view of the gradually increasing amount of economic distress among the Maori people of Auckland Province atld their being involved in the dearth of employment prevailing, the association requests the Government to consider the inauguration of some scheme of afforestation affording relief in the districts affected. Such a scheme would also serve to counteract the tendency to drift to city and suburban areas where such employment as is obtained is of a nature inimical to the social welfare of these people, as well as bringing them in touch with environments against «ge best interests of the race.”