"THE COLOUR LINE"

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 86, 21 January 1928, Page 2

"THE COLOUR LINE"

INCIDENT AT ROTORUA. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 20. Another instance of the "colour line" being drawn against Maoris has occurred, on this Decision in Rotorua, where two Maori girls were recently I refused accommodation by the proprietor of a-large boarding-house. The caso was aggravated by the fact that the girls had booked rooms in advance, but when the proprietor saw nis guests were Maoris, he refused to acknowledge the reservation already made by him, and practically hustled the girls off the premises. As it was the busy holiday season, the girls could not find elsewhere, and were finally forced to seek shelter for the night in the Maori village at Whakarewarewa. The matter came before the Akarana Maori Association last evening, a body which recently dealt with discrimination shown against. the Maoris by the proprietor of a large Auckland hairdressing establishment. Members expressed indignation at the treatment received by the two girls. & A member of the association asked what gootfc was it to aspire to European standards, of living and education if they were to meet with such rebuffs. Another member remarked that it was odd for Maoris to be unwelcome in where, as a matter of fact, they constituted a large part of -£he attraction for tourists. It '.vas hot consistent to exploit the tourist value of the Maoris and at the same time ignore them socially. These girls were of good birth, character, and education. They were- strangers in a strange town, yet they were denied accommodation which they had booked in advance, and for which they we*3 prepared to pay. The association finally decided to write to the Rotorua Progress Committee, setting forth the case, and asking that boarding-house keenerS be requested to discountenance such practice* when reputable Maori visitors to Rotorua applied for accommodation.