MAORIS AT SEA

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 145, 16 December 1924, Page 5

MAORIS AT SEA

REPLY TO COMPLAINTS

THEIR SPECLAL PRIVILEGES.

(united, press «ss6ciati6n.—copiriqht.) (Received 16th December, 9 a.m.)

SYDNEY,. This Day

Replying to the complaints about 'the cqiuducfc of the .'party, pi .Maoris aboard the steamer jlishima Mara, P. S. Moko says the alleged domination of the. sec-ond-class accommodation by the thirdclass .passengers,was noV challenged until the ship > arrived; at Townsyille. Subsequently. a. party of thirty Russians was informed by one of the. ship's', officers that as "a complaint had been lodged by second-class passengers, in future the third-class passengers would have to remain..in their allocated \portibn of the ship. The Maori party, although it was travelling third-class, had been .extended the privilege by the owners of the Vessel of using the- second-class accommodation, and other facilities if required. . The complainants .were, informed of this fact* but. still obstinately insisted that these priviteges should not be extended to. the Maou-t'party. . The alleged assault was the outcome of an insult to ..two of the Maori party's womenfolk. The statement, that the ship's officers encouraged the action of the Maoris was untrue. The . commander's' attitude in refusing to see the complainants was justified. after they had threatened . that they', would personally and through the Press* advise Europeans not.tp patronise Japanese.ships.