The Daily News. SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1901. ACCOMMODATION FOR MAORIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 139, 6 July 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1901. ACCOMMODATION FOR MAORIS.

Attention has several times been called to the need of some accommodation for Maoris in New Plymouth, and the difficulty of obtaining accommodation for them was made a great deal of during tbo recent application for a license for the " Hotel Commonwealth." The Rav. F. W. Bennett brought a case under our notice yesterday, which certain y shows the necessity of something being done, as it is certainly a re r proach to our civilisation, our humanity, and our professions as a Christian people that a lady and gentleman after driving from house to house, and being refueed accommodation, bhould have to sleep at livery stables. The facts as related by the Rev. Mr Bennett are that a native chief of high raak, and of considerable wealth, arrived at New Plymouth by the mail train on Thursday night, accompanied by|a female relation, a young girl, whom ha was bringing to visit a relative of a young gir] who had died at the Girls' Sahool, Napier. They toek a cab, one of Mr West's, and were driven 11 an botel, but were informed tbey had eo room, and could not even give a shakedown. Prbceeding to another hotel, they sent in the night-watchmaD, who was informed " they had room," but being asked who required it, and on finding it was a Maori, the accommodation was refused. A third hetel was visited, and they were informed! that the house was not yet ieady to receive visitors. No less than four other places were visited, and on one excuse or another accommodadation was refused, Tbey then drove round to Mr. West's stables, and he very kindly gave them accommeda* ion in the waiting room*. The Rev. Mr. Bennett is very much annoyed at the! treatment tbese people, who are friends of hi--, received. Ha says they ara eminently respectable, and are held in high <ste-m in Hawke's Bsy, where "heir home is. Sjveral people who have heard of th» matter are equally indignant, and have spoken of taking ac'ion under the licensing Act ta see if this state of things cannot be put a stop to. It is stated, we know not with what truth, that parsons are often refused accommodation for insufficient! reason?, and in this country, where Maori and Pakeha are supposed to be j equal, being a a Maori is not sufficient in law for refusing accommodation.! Aiteation is also called to the L'censi«g Act, part 11., under the heading, " Duti s and Liabilities of L'censses.' Clause 129 says : " Every hcmseke'psr failing or refusing, eith>r personally or through anyone acting on Lis behalf, except for some Valid reison to supply lodging, meals, or accommod ti >ii to 'ravellers, shill for each offence b) liable, on conviction, to forfeit «n<l pay any sum not exceeding £10." Is is q'li'e ilear that the allegation t) supply aoco'omoda' bu goes with the license, the qualification to obtain accommodation being that of travellers quite irn spective of race, nationality or cJour.