MAORI WORKERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 177, 29 July 1938, Page 14

MAORI WORKERS.

IN MARKET GARDENS.

ASSOCIATION'S VIEW.

ACCOMMODATION QUESTION.

Mr. George Graham, secretary of the Akarana Maori Association, writes to the "Auckland Star":—

"The question, "Maoris and Market Gardens," with its connected problems. becomes again, prominent, due to the state of the housing conditions of the Maori workers involved, and is being made at last the subject of urgent public attention. As the result, a certain section of the Pukekohe community (to use an expressive vulgarism) have 'got the wind up' in view of the threatened (though too long delayed) enforcement of the provisions of the Agricultural Workers' Act, reinforced by critical public opinion now being brought to bear, and demanding a termination of the sordid conditions under which these workers exist. Now for some years past these conditions have been adversely criticised, but neither the lessee Asiatic employers, nor the property owners at Pukekohe, took any action. Now. that .Maori mortality is alarmingly heavy—due solely to living conditions—public attention is bestirring those responsible. Until that had become so, those • 'involved were well satisfied to allow matters to run on. But now, in view of pending action, they seek to pass their responsibility on to the general taxpayer, and in order that the supply of Maori, labour should be available, for their private interests; In ojher words they wish to 'pass on the monkey/' >-':,• , = .... -, Question of Desirability. • Now, where, is the money to., come from, to provide ? Whence will come the funds, for control and maintenance T Why seek to expend large sums thus and clash with the proper and well-con-sidered policy that the Government is assiduously (and I think successfully) maturing—the provision of homes for Maori families on their own lands, or on lands being provided, and in their own districts-and proper environment! Is it desirable, from any point of view, to do anything that will draw Maori* people from, their home districts by providing further facilities for the too steady drift to Asiatic market garden areas at Pukekohe or elsewhere? These are only some of the many pertinent questions which present themselves to those closely acquainted with Maori social welfare—and these questions must lie seriously considered and properly answered. Again, if Maori housing facilities are to be provided at Pukekohe in particular -that _will create a' precedent which should *e avoided. Similar schemes will be justifiably demanded from numerous other market garden centres. Take as a local instance- Mangere, Panmure and Tamaki. These are localities where (Maori housing needs similar attention and where it could not be consistently declined at public expense should this scheme go through. We should, if these things were acceded to, then have the inconsistency of two diametrically opposed systems of dealing with Maori welfare. One, by way of subsidising market garden activities, the other the legitimate settlement # e Maori » »"ider correct economic conditions, as occupiers of their owm homes and lands. To that latter end the Government should have undivided public support. Some -750 homes have already been so provided and promise is imply made for the immediate future.. Cure for Evils. A« to that section of Maoris who, it-is itated, prefer to engage themselves as ■mployees in the seasonal and precarious lying to be made on market gardens— :hat condition of living must largely be eft to their own discretion. But the •ure for the evils resulting from the conlitions that consequently obtain is the Iraetic application.of the provisions of he Agricultural Workers, Act. The above expression of opinion anent his phase of the Maori problem is that iot only of this association, J»ut of icknowledged representatives of the Kaon race whose opfniona have been «Jy "ought. These men desire a higher teet.ny for the.r people—something betwor^ ra I? A*