THE COLOUR LINE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 16, 20 January 1928, Page 6

THE COLOUR LINE

<.<•■' MAORIS INSULTED ROTORUA BOARDING-HOUSE (By Telegraph.) (Special to "Tha Evening Port.") AUCKLAND, This Day. Another instance of the "colour line" being drawn against the Maoris has occurred, on this occasion in Rotorua, where two native girls < were recently refused accommodation by the proprietor of a large boarding-house. The case was aggravated by the fact that the girls had booked rooms in advance, but when the proprietor saw that his guests were Natives he refused to acknowledge the reservation already jnade by him and practically hustled the girls off the premises. As it was the busy holiday season the girls could not find accommodation elsewhere, and finally had to ieek shelter lor the night in the Native village at Whakarcwufewa. The matter came before the Akwana : Maori Association last evening, the body which recently dealt with' the digcrimination shown against Maoris by the proprietor of a large Auckland hairdregsing establishment. Member* expressed indignation at the treatment received by the girls. It was emphasised that they were strangers in Rotorua but girls of good character, educa. tion, and address. The association finally decided to write to the Botorun Progress Committee setting forth the case and asking that the boardinghouse keepers be requested to discountenance such a practice when reputable Native visitors to Rotorua applied for j accommodation.