"MORALITY AT STAKE."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 164, 13 July 1928, Page 7

"MORALITY AT STAKE."

MAORI GIRLS AND CHINESE.

CONDITIONS IN AUCKLAND. EYE-OPENER FOR PREMIER. SCORES OF CASES ALLEGED. There are said to be scores of cases in which vonng Maori girls are working for Chinese market gardeners in the Auckland district to-day, and a few cases in which native girls are working for Hindus in their fruit shops. The matter of the employment of Maori women by Chinese was brought under the notice of the Prime Minister by the chairman of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board during a visit to Wellington this week. Mr. Coates informed Mr. Wallace that he viewed the matter seriously, and said that the Maoris must be prevented from working for Chinese.

How widespread the practice is becoming was made clear to a representative of the "Auckland Star" in the couree of interviews with people who are qualified to speak for the Maori race and also by social workers. And back of it all is the pressure of economic conditions, which are said to be weighing as heavily upon a section of the Maori race as upon that section of the European community which is represented by the large total of unemployed. Maoris are Impotent. "What are we to do?" asked a Maori of high standing. "Owing to bad times in the country numbers of our people have drifted into the city in the hope of obtaining employment, and some of them are so reduced in circumstances that they work even for Chinese and Hindus in order to obtain food and shelter. We do not like to see this, but if the Government will not do something for landless Maoris like those who come from the Waikato and those who have spent the money they received for lands at Orakei we are powerless to prevent our people from getting whatever work they can." "This matter has already become a serious problem," said a well-known social worker, "and the sooner the Government tackles it the better for New Zealand. The standard of "morality is at stake." "If you wish to know how much truth there is in the eye-opener which has been given the Prime Minister," said another, "take a run through districts like Panmure, East Tamaki and Avondale. You may see sufficient to convince you that there is need for action.** One of Many Cases. One of the cases mentioned was that of a Maori woman with five children, who had been deserted by her husband and in the sheer Btress of circumstances had gone to work in a Chinese garden to earn /ood for her children. "The Chinese," said a Maori, "say that the yonng women are the best workers, and so they take them in preference. Some of the girls have been living on the properties where they have been working. They do all sorts "of light work, but many of them may be seen waving scarecrows to frighten the birds away. For that they are paid about 8/ or 10/ per week. They say that the Chinese are kind to them." As to casee in which Maori have been employed by members of exotic races it is known that several have been working in restaurants which are kept by Chinese and in shopß which are kept by Hindus. When they have been remonstrated with by Maori friends, the girls have replied in terms such as, "How can we help it? Work is very hard to get for Maori girls and we must earn money to live." Fundamental Causes. When interviewed in regard to economic conditions, Mr. George Graham, a prominent member of the Auckland Maori Association, said that the problem was the outcome of changing conditions of life, which had produced distress among a section of the Maori race. "A regrettable feature," he said, "is that a large number of natives who are now in need of assistance, were, until recently, well-to-do people, but owing to the reckless acquisition of native lands by the Government these people have become landless, have spent their money and are now destitute." Mr. Graham said that many Maoris were turning for assistance to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, and no doubt this was an embarrassment to those institutions. At the same time it must be remembered that the legislation under which relief was granted makes no distinction between Europeans and Maoris. It must also be remembered that although a lot had been said about the non-payment of native rates, it was a fact that many hundreds of thousands sterling wese paid to the Government each year by the Maoris either by deduction out of rent or purchase money, or as rates to local bodies which are subject to hospital and charitable aid levies. Orakei Natives Destitute. "The natives at Orakei," said Mr. Graham, "have, in their improvident way, exhausted the £80,000 which they are said to have received for their lands, and they are now in the unfortunate position of being landless and destitute. Their homes and money should have been made secure by State supervision." Owing to the drift to the city, Mr. Graham estimates that there are in Auckland to-day some 600 Maoris who should be located in the country. "The young women who are working for Chinese and Hindoos," he said, "are living in or are surrounded by undesirable conditions, and in this connection regrettable things have been reported. Some time ago the Government was communicated with on the subject, but apparently they could do nothing. The whole question of economic conditions among the Maori people is such as to demand serious attention."

A deputation from the Auckland Maori Association waited opon the representatives of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board this afternoon to discuss some l>a>i- of co-operation in dealing with tLc problem of rel\"f.