MAORIS AND CHINESE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 261, 4 November 1929, Page 19

MAORIS AND CHINESE.

. I "UNFAIR ALLEGATIONS." "MORE TROUBLE WITH WHITE PROFLIGATES." MISSIONER ANSWERS CRITICISM. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) •■ TE AROHA, Saturday. The Rev. A. J. Seamer, general superintendent of the New Zealand Methodist Church's home missions, to-day replied to the criticism recently levelled at him by the ' Akarana Maori Association regarding hie attitude to the employment of Maori women by Chinese market gardeners. Prefacing his remarks by stating that since his first statement, made early in October, he had remained silent, as he had neither the time nor the inclination to bother about personal attacks,. Mr. Seamer said: "Until to-day I have never mentioned the Akarana Association m any speech, report or Press interview. I have always looked upon it, and still do, as a group of well-intentioned people capable of good work. As I have the honour to be the chief executive officer of a mission that has been doing educa- , tional and social work amongst Jlaori people for 107 years, which counts its active Maori members by the thousands, which has on its executive a stair of more Maori workers than the total Maori membership, actual and proper, of the Akarana Association, and which spends more in a month in its efforts , for the amelioration of the Maori than the association has ever passed through its books, it is rather amusing to say that I am not competent to express an • opinion. "Very Few Half-caste Children." ['■ "The position we take up is as follows: "(1) Maori women work in Chinese ; market gardens because there is no more suitable employment offering. "(2) Very few single women. accept such employment, except in company with their guardians. "(3) The accusation made by the Akarana Association last week against employers of Jβ unfair Md should be withdrawn. - "(4) There are very few half-caste ilaori-Chinose children, and most of the few have been born in wedlock. : '-'■ , "(u) We have more trouble with various types of European profligates than *Hh the Chinese in market gardens, for ; most of thsse gardeners are honest, hardWorkinrr men. ■• ■ • -■■■•• i > "(0) From the sentimental and racial : standpoints' our mission is" -strongly oppo-cd to the in.termindin- of Chinese and Maori, but we love fair play. Most of Woms Moral. "(7) Almost all Maori women working ; in market, gardens arc honest, hard- ; irking women, struggiing-to earn sufficient to purchase the necessities of lite W themselves and their dependants, ana ft ey should br treated with respect. The/ a "— •■■i-e a* r;£-»ect.-.blc n= their critics."

Mr. Seamer ended by saying it was highly desirable that efforts should be made to guard the interests of Maori >vorkers, whether engaged by Europeans in. their gardens and vineyards or by Chinese. The mission would assist every legitimate effort in that direction, and it° congratulated the Pukekohe Maori Committee on its constructive policy.